Икона, Преображение Господне, 15 в. Новгород
Icon, Transfiguration of the Lord, 15th c., Novgorod
Prayer transforms, bedazzles, transfigures, inspires, transfixes, awes. May I climb the mountain of prayer today in the company of Jesus and listen to what he has to say.
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. Luke 9:28b-29
William Hole (1846-1917)
Temptation of Jesus in the desert
Watercolor, ca.1900-1908
The desert of inner exploration is a lonely place. It tends to be dry and tiring, and it seems endless. At times I come upon an oasis where I am refreshed and renewed to continue the journey. At times I am accosted by demons of self-hatred, greed, and despair. At times I am befriended by a ministering angel who reminds me I am not alone in my loneliness, that God is always with me.
Let me give thanks for the opportunity to be in this empty place where only God’s love can fill me. Let me trust that the Holy Spirit has led me here.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2
Today I will put my attention boat a little distance from the shore of everyday tasks, obligations, and responsibilities, and invite Jesus to sit down with me. I will ask him to teach me his way and I will listen to his word.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, [Jesus] asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. Luke 5:3
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus dans la synagogue déroule le livre
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
We, too, have been anointed by God’s Spirit to bring glad tidings to the poor. We bring food to those who are hungry. We bring compassion to those who are grieving. We bring encouragement to those who have low self-esteem. We bring comfort to those who are ill.
Wherever we go, we bring the gift of ourselves, the glad tidings of our loving presence, our hope in the Lord, our willingness to be guided by the Lord as trusted servants.
[Jesus] stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor. Luke 4:16b-18a
Jan Cossiers, 1600-1671
The wedding at Cana: Jesus blesses the water
oil on canvas, 1641-1660
Herentals, Saint Waltrude’s Church
You have gifts to offer. Gifts in abundance. Humor. Hospitality. Kindness. Comfort.
A listening ear. A homemade meal. A well-tended garden. A prayer.
Forgiveness. Acceptance. Compassion. Love.
You have so many gifts that bless our world.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
![Jesus MAFA. John baptizes Jesus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48290 [retrieved January 10, 2016].](https://maryannmcsweeny.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/mafa021-medium.jpg?w=295&h=195)
Jesus MAFA. John baptizes Jesus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved January 10, 2016].
And, by his example, Jesus encourages us to develop the experience of prayer, of communion with God, of entwinement with God.
When we practice conscious awareness of God’s presence for a few moments… a few minutes… a few hours… suddenly our whole life will be illumined by the discovery that God is pleased with us too.
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”… Luke 3:21-22.
John Flaxman (1755-1826)
The Adoration of the Magi
Graphite with gray wash and watercolor on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Yale Center for British Art
Today I will pay homage to the Lord by honoring his call to love my neighbor and forgive my enemies, by searching for his Holy Spirit in each person I encounter, and by making good use of my gifts and talents in his service.
[The magi] prostrated themselves and did [Jesus] homage. Matthew 2:11
Vasily Polenov (1844-1927)
Christ Among Teachers, 1896
Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery
Listen to the Word. Sit with holy Scripture. You will be astounded to find the understanding you crave, the answers you seek.
After three days they found [Jesus] in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. Luke 2:46-47
A nanosecond of silence. The compassion of strangers. The comfort of family and friends. The difficulty of pain, illness, or stress.
In unexpected moments of grace, we are made aware of the presence of the Lord and our hearts leap with joy.
[Elizabeth said,] “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:43
Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858)
Head of St. John the Baptist
oil on paper mounted on canvas, 1837-1857
Tretyakov Gallery
At any point in our temporal history, the Word of God may come to us and lead us to become prophetic witnesses to the presence of God in our midst.
The Word of God may call us to speak out against prejudice, greed, and violence, and point the way to acceptance, generosity, and peace.
The Word of God may show us how to let go of resentment, self-centeredness, and arrogance, and teach us the way of forgiveness, service to those in need, and humble awareness of our dependence on God.
The Word of God may clarify our purpose in life: to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors, to bring comfort to the afflicted, to use our gifts and talents in the service of God’s whole human family.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke 3:1, 2
Mary Ann McSweeny 