Stay!

       One of the many reasons why I love Lent is because of the discipline I have during these 40 days.  I don't really have it the rest of the year, but during these 40 days, I am totally focused on my faith.  I have given up Facebook,  I am writing this blog, I'm listening to spiritual pod casts while running at the gym and I am only listening to Catholic radio while in my car.  I mean, I am totally immersing myself in Jesus!  So far, other than giving up Facebook, it has been easy.  Why?  Because Lent forces me to prove myself to Jesus and I love that.  The rest of the year, I can fall asleep and as I said earlier in a blog, get lazy and complacent.  But during Lent, I am determined to get it right and put Him first.  Sometimes, I just want to stay in Lent.....to not go back to the "regular" church seasons.  I feel so faith filled during these 40 days and I don't want that to change.

     I think this is what Peter, James and John experienced in today's Gospel reading.  Jesus took them up to the mountain top to spend time with Him and Pray.   While they were up there, He appeared before them in dazzling white clothes with Moses and Elijah on each side of Him.  He was transfigured right in front of their eyes!  But it must not have been Lent, because they were SLEEPING!!  When they awoke, they were mesmerized by what they saw.  Peter was so filled with faith from what he was witnessing that he wanted to set up tents so they all could just stay on that mountaintop forever.  He didn't want to leave.  But soon the clouds rolled in and it was apparent that they couldn't stay in that moment forever.  When I read this, I think of Lent as my mountaintop moment.  It is the one time during the year when I "go up to the mountain top with Jesus" and am mesmerized by what He can do in my life when I let Him.  I feel so faith filled that I just want to stay in the Lenten season forever.  But, it ends.  The clouds roll in.  Life goes back to normal and oftentimes, I fall asleep again. 

     At the end of today's Gospel, Jesus says to Peter, James and John, "This is my chosen Son, listen to Him."  I think that is the key to staying in our mountaintop moments like Lent.  In reality, if I really Listen to what Jesus tells me, He tells me to be living like this ALL of the time, not just during Lent.  I need to begin these practices during Lent, but if I want to stay as connected to Jesus and as faith filled as I feel during these 40 days, then I need these disciplines to stay with me way after the 40 days  of Lent have ended.   That way, my mountain top moment can last forever!

     * Disclaimer: although I will be carrying these practices past the 40 days of Lent, Facebook is not included in that!  Jesus told me that wasn't necessary.  :)