Mark 9:7-9

“Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’” vs. 7

The moment of transfiguration was over for the disciples. They’d gotten a glimpse of resurrection and then it was gone. And then came the cloud! They’d seen Easter and now they could see nothing–but then from the cloud came a voice, the same voice Jesus had heard at his baptism, but now it was directed at them. In a sense this was their baptismal moment and they were told one thing, “Listen to Jesus!” There could be no more important message for us in this time of obfuscating politicians and preachers. People claiming allegiance to Jesus are abandoning his message of love in favor of mean-spirited denunciations and half-baked nationalism. It’s so strange! His words are readily available to us in the gospels. He tells us to love our enemies and pray for them. Our allegiance is to the Lord and Giver of Life, and not to any country or politician. The disciples got it! After the resurrection they proclaimed the good news of Jesus and established congregations all over the world. When that’s the dominant message of the Church, good things will happen, the hungry will be fed, and hurting people will find healing. What a blessing it is when people actually listen to Jesus! Praise God, it’s still happening!

Thought for the Day: Why do people abandon the teachings of Jesus?