“Run to Him”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
March 16 – 17, 2019
Scripture: Luke 9:28B-36
28) About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 29) While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. 30) And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,31) who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32) Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory* and the two men standing with him. 33) As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents,* one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. 34) While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. 35) Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 36) After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time* tell anyone what they had seen.
Lent is a great time to go to Confession. This is your opportunity to receive God’s love. People are sometimes reluctant to have me hear their confessions because I know them or they don’t want to shock me. I seriously doubt that’s going to happen. Hearing confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn. I haven’t heard a juicy one since my Army days.
The apostles suffered from short-term memory loss. Think about it….they witnessed many miracles…not all of them recorded. They actually heard the voice of God and saw what it would be like in heaven. Their minds were enlightened. But, were the apostles there on Thursday at His Passion? No. They had scattered to the four winds.
God gives us our crosses to keep us on a leash so that we don’t stray too far from him. Think about it….when our lives are going well, when our crosses are light, we tend to focus less on God. But, as our troubles multiply, when our crosses grow heavy, we turn back to Him for help. Once our crosses are light again, we lose focus again. We, like the apostles, are afflicted with short-term memory loss and must learn the same lesson over and over again….keep God at the center of your life.
I visited a man in Hospice whose family told me that his uncle had come to visit him. Now, this man was very old and no spring chicken, so I really doubted that his uncle was still alive and had actually visited him. Anyway, his uncle had appeared and told him that death is not that bad and that it’s an easy passage. When people are about to die, I tell them to run to Him; His arms will be wide open, and you will have fulfillment in God love. God’s consolation happens when He draws us closer to Him which fills our hearts with joy and peace. God’s consolation is eternal in the next life.
We all expect good things from those we love. But, when people tell me that their prayers are always answered, I’m skeptical. That’s just not normal. Some people think that when God does not respond to their prayers that maybe they aren’t doing them correctly. Not true. Your prayers are not in vain. God hears you and will bestow His consolation upon you when you need it and least expect it.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you keep God at the center of your life and not just when your crosses are heavy?