I was so excited to get onto campus at Deakin Burwood for the first time at O-Week. There on campus we find so many young students full of life and searching for new connections, opportunities and discoveries. Imagine if they all knew Jesus. It would be great if he showed up, revealed himself to them and showed them all he was God, the answer to all their searching.
While I think this is a great idea (and I reckon the disciples thought the same), this is not how Jesus chose to reveal himself. The Transfiguration, when Jesus showed his glory and the Father’s voice affirmed who he is, happened in private, away from the crowds. Only three of the disciples witnessed it. Why wouldn’t Jesus show his glory for the whole world to see so they could know and follow him?
Whatever Jesus’ rationale was (I will not presume to know the mind of God), there are a few things to learn from it. Firstly, it tells us that Jesus wants to reveal himself to us in private. Jesus wants to meet his disciples in prayer. It is essential that we invest time to go away in private to get to know him in a personal relationship. Secondly, we see that the way Jesus wants to reveal himself to everyone else is not through big, shiny revelations, but through our presence in the world. He reveals himself to others through our relationships, our kindness, and the sharing our personal experience of knowing God. How is God using you to reveal himself to the world?
Author: Fr Cam Smith, MGL
