Listening

Tomorrow is the last Sunday before Lent. On this final Sunday of the Season of Epiphany, the Gospel reading tells of Jesus' transfiguration. As at Jesus' baptism, a voice from heaven speaks, this time adding a clause to pay attention, for the voice says, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!"

Paired with this admonition to listen to Jesus is a reading from the Old Testament in which Elijah is told to stand on the side of the mountain as the Lord passes by. There follows a great wind, an earthquake and a fire, yet God is in none of these. At last Elijah hears the still small voice of God.

Today we have so much noise around us that it is amazing we can hear God at all. Statistically, we make little to no room for God. In a lifetime, the average person spends:
• 11 years watching TV
• 3 years in the bathroom
• 3 years getting dressed
• 2 years on the phone

In contrast:
• In a lifetime, the average Christian spends less than 6 months with God.

Lent is an intentional 40 days of making more room to hear God's voice as Easter approaches. It is a time for following the advice of the voice from heaven which said to listen to Jesus as well as following the example of Elijah who discerned the still small voice of God. In the coming days, this blog (and items in the entry hall at King of Peace) will help you prepare for a more meaningful Easter.

In the archives is the Tribune & Georgian religion column Preparing for Easter's Joy.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church