How do we experience the Lord?

For the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent, Jesus took the apostles Peter, James, and John up the mountain and was transfigured before their eyes.  They were given a glimpse of the Risen Lord to strengthen then in their journey to Jerusalem.  This journey to Jerusalem is code for the true meaning of discipleship of the Lord Jesus.  For it was in Jerusalem that Jesus was to experience suffering, the cross, and even death.  To be a disciple of Jesus means to be a follower of the crucified Lord as well as the Risen Lord.

As disciples, none of us get a free pass on dealing with the cross in life.  It goes with the territory of being a follower of Jesus.  However the cross is not a dead-end street.  Rather, our crosses in life when united with the cross of Jesus is the path to resurrection and new life.  The cross teaches us the life lesson of the meaning of love -- love of others and love of God.

The transfiguration moments of our life, when we experience the Lord and His unending love for us, are meant to strengthen us in faith in dealing with the setbacks of life.  Thanks be to God for the transfiguration experiences of life.  We don't need to climb the mountain.  We need just to be aware of how the Lord shares His love with us.

In our Lenten journey, we need to go to Jerusalem.  Be awake of the gifts of transfiguration experiences that help us to be spirit-filled and guide in our path of discipleship.