What Does it Take?
Adventurous men. All twelve of them. They had to be to quit their jobs, give up their lives, and follow after the rabbi, Jesus. Luke chronicles their faith journey so insightfully.
In this one example, after Jesus is seen by the groggy disciples in the company of Moses and Elijah, Peter suggests building an altar right there. "Let's do something ourselves to remember this moment!" Doing things isn't wrong. But, it is so typical of mere humans. We encounter God and we react by getting busy.
But, as the story ends a cloud descends on and envelopes the men. Peterson translates what happens next as 'they became deeply aware of God'. Deeply aware.
I read the words and jealousy rises up; it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. My whole life is a story of the pursuit of deep awareness. Oh for a cloud to descend on me! But, I see for the first time now...my busy-ness--though well-intentioned--has never brought and can never bring deep awareness. His presence--and only being in His presence--has the power.
For modern-day disciples, the cloud will not descend. Instead, from within us the Holy Spirit will rise . And, this not from building altars or practicing religious acts. But by prayer (Jesus had gone to pray when this story begins), meditation, reflection, quiet, solitude, worship--I can be enveloped by God.
Created about 1 year ago
