Printable version of today’s devotional guide

Introduction To This Guide:
These daily devotional guides are provided to encourage you to listen and reflect on how God is speaking to you during this Season of Lent. The question at the end of each day’s contemplation is intended to foster further reflection and prayer throughout the day.  In addition, space is provided for you to document your thoughts on how you hear God speaking to you at this time. May you be blessed and transformed through the Holy Spirit as you ponder God’s word during this most holy of seasons. ++ Provided by:  Community Missions Inc., 1570 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14303, Phone: (716) 285-3403, www.communitymissions.org

Where Do I Begin?

Begin each day with the Prayer of Illumination to help, prepare your heart to hear God’s word for you.  Read “to be formed and transformed rather than to gather information…Read with a vulnerable heart.  Expect to be blessed…Read as one awake, one waiting for the beloved.  Read with reverence.”*

Let us Pray a Prayer of Illumination:

All-Seeing One, above me, around me, within me —
guide my vision as I engage with your sacred words.
Look down upon me, look out from within me, look all around me.
See through my eyes, hear through my ears, feel through my heart.
God of Wisdom, touch me where I need to be touched;
    and when my heart is touched, give me the grace to lay
    down this Holy Book and ask significant questions:
Why has my heart been touched by you?
How am I to be changed through your touch?
All-Seeing One, I need to change, I need to look a little more like You.
May these sacred words change and transform me.
Then I can meet You face to face…when I shall be healed forever.
Your Word and the touch of your Spirit bring healing…
    a healing that will last.
O Eye of God, look not away.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me. Amen.

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SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT – Day 12

AWAKENING TO THE LORD’S GLORY

Luke 9:28-36

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

ENCOUNTERING THE CHRIST

 The refrain from the popular Christian song by MercyMe comes to mind: Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in your presence, to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine, I can only imagine…

But we really can’t imagine.  When we put ourselves up on that mountain and are overshadowed by that cloud; when we hear God speak, our hearts pounding out of our chests, what will our heart feel? Well, the disciples were there, and the text says they were terrified.

After God announces that Jesus is the Chosen Son, three words follow, …listen to him. But the disciples still have to face their own cloudiness about who Jesus is. Peter has previously proclaimed Jesus, “The Messiah of God,” and Jesus has followed that up by telling them that he “must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [And that] any who want to become his followers [must] deny themselves and take up their [own] cross daily…” (Luke 9:20, 22-23) Then they ascend the mountain to pray and distinctly hear the voice of God tell them: This is my Son…Listen to him!  But did they really hear the ramifications for their own lives, and even imagine the weaknesses they would have to confront in themselves?  I can’t even imagine…

PRAYER

 Heavenly Father, help me to listen to your Son Jesus.  Give me the courage to follow him daily, taking up my cross daily – however that is defined by my life.  Give me strength in my weakness, and sustain me in your loving care.  Amen

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

What is the cross I bear when trying to live out God’s call?

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Notes:

This week’s devotional resource was written by Rev. Wendy Depew Partelow, President of the American Baptist Churches of New York State Board of Missions, and edited by Rev. Mark H. Breese of Community Missions. The content was created specifically keeping in mind the populations served by Community Missions.

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

Scripture Verses are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), HarpurCollins Publishers, 1989.
Prayer of Illumination: Adapted from  A Tree Full of Angels by Macrina Wiederkehr [As quoted in A Guide To Prayer For All God’s People, Job & Shawchuck, The Upper Room]
*The choice of Daily Scripture texts and reflection questions are taken from Lent & Easter, Wisdom from Thomas Merton, Linguori Publications.
^tJames C. Fenhagen, Mutual Ministry, as quoted in A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People, Job & Shawchuck, The Upper Room, pgs. 89- Quote reworded for easier reading.
Ibid. ^t1 pg.88.