Luke 9:34-40: a reflection

34While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 35A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” 36When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. 37On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. 38Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only born child. 39Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams; and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t.”

At the transfiguration, as Peter fumbles for words, a cloud overshadows the disciples, and from it comes the voice of the Father: This is my beloved Son; listen to him. And when the voice has spoken, Jesus is found alone. The next day, coming down from the mountain, they are met at once by the needy crowd and a desperate father whose son the disciples could not heal. The heavenly command and the earthly need come together: listen to him, and then, back among the crowds, the challenge of following him.

Notice the command the Father gives from the cloud: listen to him. Of all that could have been said, the Father directs the disciples' attention to his Son with this: listen to him. Above the voices of Moses and Elijah, above every other authority, they are to listen to Jesus. His word is to be heeded above all; the settled priority of those who would follow him is to listen to Christ, to attend to what he says and do it.

That command still stands over us: listen to him. In a world full of voices competing for our attention and allegiance, the Father directs us to his Son: listen to him. Above the many voices that would tell us how to live, what to value, where to find life, we are to listen to Christ, to make heeding his word our settled priority. Ask whose voice you are really listening to. Make it your aim to listen to Jesus above all other voices, to attend to his word and obey it. And, like the disciples, come down from listening to serve the needy world below; for listening to Christ leads not to a mountaintop retreat, but back among the crowds, to follow and serve him there.

Lord, at the transfiguration, the Father's voice came from the cloud with a command: this is my beloved Son; listen to him. Let that command stand over me. In a world full of voices competing for my attention and allegiance, you direct me to your Son: listen to him. Above the many voices that would tell me how to live, what to value, where to find life, help me listen to Christ, to make heeding his word my settled priority. Show me whose voice I am really listening to. Help me listen to Jesus above all other voices, to attend to his word and obey it. And, like the disciples, help me come down from listening to serve the needy world below; for listening to Christ leads not to a mountaintop retreat, but back among the crowds, to follow and serve him there. Help me listen to your Son, and do what he says.