WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflection for 8/4/17

August 03, 2017  /  Joe Parisi

When Jesus was transfigured the three disciples were in turn amazed, overwhelmed, frightened and probably confused by what had occurred. To compound this Jesus’ only comment is for them not to discuss this with anyone until after he has risen from the dead. How that must’ve left them even more perplexed.  I have wondered why why so many places and Scriptures we find this event. My conclusion is that Jesus Transfiguration happened primarily for Jesus’ benefit and not the disciples.

The Transfiguration event is akin to that of Jesus’ baptism. In both instances His Father is confirming and consoling and preparing Jesus for what he is doing and is about to do. At the time of his Transfiguration Jesus is about to journey to Jerusalem where he will suffer his passion and death. This is a time when Jesus most certainly needs confirmation, just as he needed reassurance  at his baptism when about to embark upon his public life and preaching.

What does this say to you and me? Recall that St. Paul tells us that Jesus is like us in all things except for sin and these incidents present excellent examples of this. At his baptism Jesus is setting out on a way of life he is almost totally unfamiliar with. No wonder he will spend some time with John and his disciples. With them he will discover how to nurture disciples, how to gather crowds, how to preach to them, how to deal with people react in many different ways, favorable and hostile, to the message that he proclaims. Similarly, going up to Jerusalem, the stronghold of his bitter enemies, some of whom have either tried or vowed to destroy him, demands of Jesus and incredible determination and courage.

And so as Jesus considers this and prays about it, his Father touches him in a most unique way telling him that he is doing the right thing and does this in a manner that confirms for him the incredible outcomes that will result from all of this. What a blessed and wonderful experience the Transfiguration is for Jesus.

Jesus, like us, seeks and needs in the most difficult and mysterious moments of his life his Father’s affirmation and encouragement that He is indeed doing his father’s will. We too need this and we too should seek this.

-Fr. Jim Blumeyer, S.J.