Transfigured grace within you

Transfigured grace within you

A young husband and wife learn they are about to become parents for the first time. They are excited, of course - But there is a lingering doubt: How can I be a parent to a child when I’m still pretty much a kid myself? Do I have what it takes to be a good mom, a good dad? I mean, I could really destroy a great kid here! But the young parents find within themselves the wisdom, the strength, the patience - the grace - to be a good mom and dad to this child whom they love more than they could ever imagine.

She took care of every detail of their family’s live together. Then she became ill. It was now all up to him. At first, he was lost, terrified. But he managed to make it all work: to handle all the demands of the household, to keep everyone on schedule, to be dad and sometimes mom to the kids - all the while continuing to be a strong and supportive husband to her.

With the help of family and friends - and her - he found within himself the patience and where-with-all to keep family and home together.

Every life is a continuing series of such self-discovery: A boy picks up a bat for the first time. A girl takes her first tentative steps onto the court and begins dribbling the basketball.

He nervously steps up to the lectern and clears his throat. She stares at the blank page for a long time before she begins writing down words - her words.

He bends down to help, not knowing what he should do. She sits by the bedside, having no idea what to say.

Who are we to think we can play this game, succeed at this craft, express anything important in art, offer any meaningful support or consolation (terrified, in fact, that we are certain to say the wrong thing or do something to make things worse)?

But when we confront our fears, when we resolve to give all we have, when we devote the time to learn and practice, we amaze ourselves at the talents and abilities we possess and what we can do.

In our lives, we confront many mountains: the first day at a new school, new responsibilities at work, a desperate call for help. But we manage to find within ourselves abilities we didn’t know we possessed, words we didn’t think we knew, love that was beyond us. We realize in those moments that we are, in fact, smart enough, capable enough, loving enough to learn, to succeed, to heal, to transform our lives and the world around us.

In the event we have come to call Jesus’ “transfiguration,” the three disciples realize the divinity - the very life and love of God - that exists within the person of Jesus.

That same touch of divinity exists within each one of us, as well: God is present within us, animating us to do wonderful, holy thins; guiding our steps as we try to walk justly and humbly in the ways of God; enlightening our vision with wisdom and selflessness to bring the justice and mercy of God to our world. The challenge of discipleship is to allow the love of God within us to “transfigure” despair into hope, sadness into joy anguish into healing, estrangement into community.