Message from Fr. Cyrain

This Lent, we remember the essential Christian disciplines. Last week, it was fasting. This week it is prayer. So, Jesus went up to the mountain to pray. From the very beginning of salvation history, we will know that mountains are special places for encounters with God. Abraham was enlightened by God at Mt. Moriah. God revealed his name and gave the ten commandments to Moses at Mt. Sinai. Elijah conversed with God in Mt. Horeb. And now, Jesus revealed his divinity to the three disciples in Mt. Tabor.
       The gospel suggests that the Transfiguration was a fruit of Jesus’ prayer. And like anything very important that happens, prayer precedes it. It is during his prayer that Jesus is transfigured. Likewise, saints have often transfigured in their prayer and adoration. This is not surprising. Prayer is an encounter with the Father, it configures us to him, at least spiritually if not physically, as in the case of Jesus and the saints.
       While prayer seems simple, so many of us find it difficult to truly pray. We live in a world full of distractions and enticements to do most other things. We live in an environment that makes us believe we do not need outside help, and divine help.  We can do things on our own. We have become experts of the art of control. And why not? We live in a culture of control. We now control the earth, the sky, air and water, communications, and the future. But how come, and this is still a mystery, we cannot control the direction of our marriage, the behavior of our children, the spread of cancer? We have no mastery over our evil impulses, or the evils that engulf other people’s hearts.  We cannot even heal our personal emotional and psychological wounds.
       In the end, we must accept that in this life, there are many things beyond our grasp. We need Someone who will help us confront our troubles and right the wrongs we find around us with a power that is not ours but His. Our strength is limited, as is our knowledge.  We need strength from the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need the strength, the peace and the assurance of prayer.
       If fasting heals our greedy minds, then prayer heals our proud self. Our selfishness and greed do not transfigure us, they disfigure us.