Treasure Bright Moments For Dark Times

by Jay Maupin
(Long Beach, CA, USA)

Peter wanted the joy and comfort of seeing Jesus in His glory to go on and on. Yet Our Lord withdrew the vision from them, and told them they had more work to do. It seems to me that one thing Jesus expected of them was that they were to remember the moment and use the memory to keep their FAITH strong when their FEELINGS were clouded with fear, sorrow and doubt.

Surely we all have had moments of great joy and consolation. Yet God withdraws these moments, as Jesus returned to His ordinary appearance to the three apostles.

I believe God knows that it is for our benefit; that we must grow in faith and too much direct support can prevent us from learning to stand on our own feet of faith. A meditation I use with this mystery is to pray that I may take the trouble to remember and ponder on the moments of joy and peace God grants me, to sustain me in the times of desolation we all must endure in this life.

Like Peter, we might prefer just to stay in that light and bask in it. Who would not? But I believe God gives us these moments that we may use them to sustain ourselves in the dark times. As always, we grow in faith only through God's help. But we must do our part to use the help He sends us.

Our Lady, when events and words of Jesus of great importance came to her, saved these things in her heart and pondered on them even when she did not fully understand them at the time. She is our model of discipleship; we should do the same.

In Christ,

Jay Maupin

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