My Thoughts on 06/08/2021

One of my favourite places where I spent many happy days as a boy was the Malvern Hills. To stand atop of the Worcestershire Beacon you can see the Lickey Hills near Redditch, the Wrekin and past Birmingham to Cannock Chase as well as great views over Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the Welsh mountains. Going up to a high place takes us out of ourselves and is conducive to quiet reflection. Mountain tops are places of encounter with God. We have Moses on Mount Sinai and Elijah on Mount Horeb.

On this feast of the Transfiguration we celebrate the occasion when Jesus takes Peter James and John up a high mountain to pray. They experienced Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah with him. A cloud covered them in shadow and the voice from the crowd said. “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.”

These words are an invitation to us to listen. This doesn’t mean just lending an attentive ear but opening our heart to God’s word. To be a disciple is to listen: “each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear.” (Isaiah 50:4-5).

Lord give me the grace to be attentive and listen. May I be always open to your word and ready to respond. My I have a listening heart.