While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
During Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, his face and clothing changed and became “dazzling white.” Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus before Peter, John, and James. In the second reading from Peter, he makes clear that he himself was an eyewitness to Jesus’ coming in power and that what he proclaimed was not “cleverly devised myths.” Peter himself, along with John and James, heard a voice from heaven say, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” In the Gospel reading of the transfiguration according to Luke, Peter was awestruck by the appearance of Moses and Elijah and hardly knew what to say. As he was still speaking, God spoke from heaven, saying, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
God, help me understand the need to listen for your voice. Thank you for the boldness of Peter in proclaiming his faith and insisting that he is not professing made-up accounts. Overwhelmed by what he witnesses, he fails to find words: “But he did not know what he was saying.” It is your voice that quiets Peter and turns his attention back to your Son. Surely, in my life there are moments when I speak for the sake of speaking and act for the sake of acting even as I am an eyewitness to a transformation taking place.
It is the Great I Am who speaks from a cloud in a voice that Peter, James, and John hear. It quiets the hearts of those close to the Lord and directs their attention back to him. The Gospel reading says about the disciples after that moment: “After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.” God, give me the grace today to hear and know your voice in silence and listen to your Son. At the end of today, I hope to be able to look back and know that you were present, that you love me, and that you were well pleased with all my words and actions.