BAPTISM:  “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased.”  (Matthew 3:17)

TRANSFIGURATION:  While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”  (Mt. 17:5)

Did you catch it?  The difference, I mean?

Same Gospel, same writer, different chapter and verse, but, more importantly, different stages of Jesus’ ministry.

Do we?  Listen to him, I mean.

Our liturgy contains that wonderful line after the readings, ‘Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.’  In this passage, there is an even more authoritative voice for us, the very voice of God, speaking to us, to the church:  “Listen to him, listen to Jesus.”  When you hear him, you hear me; when you see him, you see me.  So, do we?  Listen to him, I mean?

Lent is a time for us to think about that, a gift of time, to listen.  Will we?  Use the gift, I mean.

We begin that journey again this week, March 5^th, at 7 p.m. with the Ash Wednesday worship, which includes   the Imposition of Ashes and the Holy Eucharist.  Why miss out?  Hope to see you there/here.

Thanks be to God!