A light amidst those nagging doubts...
Luke 9.28-36
As Peter James and John discovered, new beginnings are scary. Just think of our own experience of a new job … moving house …a new pact with the in-laws … recovery after illness. Because along with the excitement of a new start come the nagging doubts: Will I make friends in this strange town? Will the children ever settle at school? Can I really cope with this new job? Was I right to break off an engagement?
This kind of question faced Peter, James and John as they followed Jesus up a mountain to pray. He was exciting to be with, and spoke with them like no rabbi ever had before.
But why did he fall out with the holy people and upset the traditionalists? And why were the Romans keeping a watchful eye on him as though he were a terrorist? Was he leading them to break with their Jewish roots and betray the past? Who would quell their hidden fears?
This was the purpose of their wonderful experience on Mount Tabor. They glimpsed Jesus as Son of God, the person he really was. The voices of tradition (Moses and Elijah) spoke words of reassurance; and most importantly the Father himself reassured them: ‘This is my Son the chosen one’.
Reassurance for us rarely comes on top of a mountain! But it does come if we listen in prayer, and are ready to trust.
