The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
What an immense consolation for the Son of Man to entrust to Peter the experience of His transfigured body. I relate to Peter in his desire to build tents and stay. Even though my intellect knows otherwise, there is this dimension of my soul that believes I can earn God’s favor or that my efforts can somehow build tents on the Mount of Transfiguration for an extended stay.
This Lent, the Spirit is leading me deeper into discernment of spirits and what an important practice it is for Catholics. Satan so dared to tempt Our Lord in the desert, and we would be remiss to think he isn’t tempting us as well. When we pray for and practice discernment we are able to identify whose voice is whispering in our ear.
I’ll just share a bit from St. Ignatius: one of his rules states, “Let the one who is in consolation think how he will conduct himself in the desolation which will come after, taking new strength for that time.” Consolations are pure gifts from God — not golden stars for our efforts. St. Ignatius tells us that in consolation we should: 1) "Assume that life is a constant ebb and flow from consolation to desolation and then back again." and 2) "Rest when we are in consolation with a peaceful preparation and acceptance of the desolation to come, within which He will give us strength when we enter into that battle.”
If consolation has a purpose for strengthening us for future desolation then perhaps they are proportionate in that the bigger the desolations we face, the bigger the consolations our Lord gives. Perhaps, the Lord knew the desolation Peter would face when Jesus would be given up to the Pharisees which is why He gave him the gift of the transfiguration. Perhaps, John rested on that mountain with a peaceful preparation and acceptance of pending desolation, which gave him the strength to remain loyal to Christ.
As we walk through Lent, I offer this prayer: O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Quotes taken from Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits by Dan Burke.
Chelsea Harkins is a wife, mother of a two-year-old and another little DNA mash up in the womb! She is also a pelvic physical therapist and business owner of Dallas Pelvic Health, a concierge practice that serves to help women heal completely after birth. Together with her husband, Ryan, they are founders of Three to Thrive, a marriage ministry designed to form and connect engaged and newly married couples to help them build a marriage for life.