Rise, Do not be Afraid by Beth DeCristofaro
His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; his throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. (Daniel 7:9)
We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father (2 Peter 1:16-17)
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. … a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Mathew 17:1-2, 5-7)
Piety
Lord, help me not fear but willingly say yes and then follow your guidance to the heart of God.
Study
It is so very difficult to encounter and describe mystery. Daniel’s vision blazes with power and raging, uncontrolled authority. Moses’ face whitened and shone by his encounter with God on the holy mountain. Elijah covered his face as the gentle God breeze passed. Jesus’ appearance changed and the disciples collapsed at the sound of a divine voice.
Jesus then tells them not to be afraid and I want to respond, “But how can I not be afraid? What just happened is unexplainable and too extreme for me, Lord.” Most of Jesus’ ministry is ordinary. He cures, feeds, forgives in the streets of poor towns to people of no consequence or even questionable background. “Don’t be afraid.” He comes to us. Also, when invited onto the mountain with him, he accompanies us back down to our dusty, convoluted lives and invites us to rise with him. Yet even then, I fear. I fear the change he asks of me on a heart and spirit level to accept the mystery, accept the unknown with Jesus as my only guide. And I want to cling to those byways I know so well of my life defined and planned (as I want to believe) by me alone. “Come,” Jesus says to me, “see your sisterhood/brotherhood in me and choose me.”
Action
Where can we see God today in new, dull, dusty places of no consequence? How can we share and make Him known to others there?
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