On the mount of Transfiguration God interrupted Peter’s babbling: “This is my beloved…listen to him.” Jesus came and touched the disciples saying, “Rise, have no fear.”  When the disciples looked up, they saw Jesus only.

In a time when we are upset, confused and angry about what is going on in the political realm we can line up on sides seeing others as enemies, foolish, misguided and dangerous.  I am not immune to such thoughts.

Listening to Jesus, we hear him say: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…For (the Father) makes his sun shine on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.” (Matthew 5:43) So Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount.  A bit later he taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven…forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

We are all broken.  We are all wounded.  We have all missed the mark of perfection, which is sin. If we are to listen to Jesus the beloved Son of The Father, then we need to listen.  Listen means to hear and obey.  Therefore, Jesus told his followers on the mount of Transfiguration to rise, be resurrected, and have no fear.

How to forgive?  How to be as perfect as the heavenly Father?  How not to fear?

During lent we will hear the author of Hebrews say, “O come, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

As with the disciples, so with us, “See Jesus only.”