Praying to Listen

Luke 9:28-35
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

I hope you read all of that — another episode of the ‘the misbegotten adventures of Peter.’  There he is on a mountaintop with Elijah — the great prophet, Moses –the Deliver and Law-giver, and Jesus — in a radiant change of appearance, and all he can think about is where everybody can stay the night.  Peter makes two mistakes we often make.  When confronted with the reality of who Jesus is we:

1. look for something to do; and
2. we try to catch his presence in a bottle.

The voice from the cloud — God’s — says, “Listen”.  Moments when we feel God’s presence are rare.  When they happen, we shouldn’t try to make them practical or make them last.  We should just be present and listen.

Lord, sometimes your message to me is ‘don’t just do something, stand there.’  I pray for a less busy spirit within me, so I can really listen to you.  Amen.

— Steve Moore