Pope Francis draws our attention to Peter, James and John. Understandably weary, they were struggling against sleep and almost missed the Transfiguration entirely!
‘The drowsiness of the three disciples appears to be a discordant note’, the Pope muses. These three disciples later fall asleep at Gethsemane! ‘This sleepiness in such important moments is surprising’, the Pope remarks.
In this regard, the apostles can help us think about Lent. ‘It is a period’, the Pope suggests, ‘in which God wants to awaken us from our inner lethargy, from this sleepiness that does not let the Spirit express itself.’
In their sleepiness these apostles make good role models for us. Despite their exhaustion, they remained open to the working of Grace. ‘We might think’, the Pope says, ‘that it was the light of Jesus that reawakened them.’
‘Like them, we too are in need of God’s light,’ the Pope affirms. And that light, he adds, ‘makes us see things in a different way: it attracts us, it reawakens us, it reignites our desire and strength to pray, to look within ourselves, and to dedicate time to others.’
We might sometimes feel sleepy, in faith as in work, but we can still be witnesses to the Transfiguration if we are really open to the light of Christ.
© Nick Brodie
Read more from here Parish Bulletin 16.03.2025
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