Ahh the Music!

You may not know this about me, but I have absolutely no musical talent. I am not in the least bit humble in saying that. It is just the plain truth. I was the kid in the 8th-grade chorus who organized the music folders, stood in the back, and was told to mouth the words. I have tried to learn to play the piano, the guitar, and the clarinet. You guessed it. I was a dismal failure at all of them. And I love beautiful music. It is heavenly when the notes come together and are blended with the sweetness of words. I tell you this because this Gospel is all about music.

This weekend’s reading is the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes His closest friends and goes up the mountain to pray. While He is praying, His friends fall asleep. They wake and see Jesus bathed in light, talking to Moses and Elijah. The reading says Jesus and the prophets were talking about Jesus’ Exodus.  

They were talking about Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. Exodus comes from Latin and literally means ‘the way out.’ They all hear the voice of God from Heaven, “This is My Chosen One, listen to Him.”

By the time this event occurs, the disciples have been with Jesus for a long time. They have heard the teachings, seen the miracles, and struggled to understand the parables. Jesus has given them what He knows from His Father. He has shown them the way. And yet Jesus knows they just don’t get it. Yes, they know the words; they know what he has taught. But they are still in their heads. Jesus needs to be in their hearts.

The Transfiguration gave them the music to go with the words of Jesus. Music is the passion that takes the words and makes them vibrate with power. The music makes the disciples ‘get it’ on a visceral level. They are infused with the majesty and awe of Jesus. They see Him, perhaps for the first time as Emmanuel, God with us.  

Peter, James, and John are forever changed. The teachings of Jesus are no longer just words. They are a symphony of love that explodes from their souls.

The Disciples are changed as much as Jesus is. No longer is the teaching of Jesus, words to understand. No longer is the message of Jesus to be learned. Now the meaning has floated down into their souls and created a masterpiece of a love song that they abandon themselves to and become one with.

In our lives, we can learn all the right words. We can know the prayers of the mass by heart. We can pray the devotions with fervor. But that is just knowing the words. If we can quote chapter and verse from the scripture, but if we don’t hear the music of faith, the words are empty. They are words without power, without passion.

When we experience the love music of faith, the words take on a majesty that sings through our eyes and glorifies our bodies with passion and love. Everyone can see the difference in us. Our love is intrinsic to our being; it seeps through our pores. They believe when people see us and hear the Word spoken from our lips. They believe that the power of our love makes our faith sing the purest and sweetest notes.  

Our lived faith is not just about the words. Anyone can learn the words. But, our faith is meant to be a transfiguration of the heart. Our faith is an orchestra, and when we are in sync with the conductor (Jesus), there is no limit to the transforming power of our love.

It is simply not enough to know the words of faith. We need to know the sweet loving melodies of God. In that is passion. In that is the power of faith.

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen