GOSPEL THOUGHTS
18th Week – Thursday
Gospel – Luke 9: 28-36
Feast of the Transfiguration
of the Lord
Does
Prayer Change You?
1) Change took place while He was Praying
- It is specifically mentioned in the Transfiguration Event that "While he was Praying, the appearance of his face changed".
- It is very Clear that the Changes takes place in and through the prayer. This shows that prayer has a tremendous power to bring a change in our life.
- History of mankind shows that Great changes have come in the world because of prayer. The victory against the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto in the 1571 is attributed to the power of Rosary.
- The great changes have come in the lives of various famous and saintly persons because of the power of Prayer. Example St Ignatius of Loyola, St Augustine’s conversion and the Prayer of St Monica
2) Prayer Changed the Face
- Change of Face also means the change of the person itself
- Face is the identity of the person. Change of face is always identified with the change of the person
- The person is identified by seeing the face. When we see the face we are able to know who the person is.
- In our identity card – Aadhar, voters id or in passport it is the face that is found in the photo as a identity mark. So has a special significance and change of face is also the change of the person.
3) Prayer changed the Place
- Jesus along with His disciples had gone to Mount Tabor to pray. There during the prayer change took place.
- Along with this change, there also came a powerful change in the place. The place became Holy and there was a presence of God, which was felt by everyone
- It became a place to experience God and to have firsthand knowledge of God
- So prayer has the power to Change the place and it makes a place Holy and Sacred
4) Prayer was instrumental in bringing Heave
to this Earth
- As soon as there was a transfiguration there appeared Mosses and Elijah. There were heavenly figures appeared on Mount Tabor
- Their appurtenances at that moment can be identified with the heaven itself. So prayer has the power to bring down heaven on this earth.
5) Does prayer helps you to gain or Lose?
- Once a man was asked, “What did you gain by regularly praying to God?” The man replied, “Nothing…but let me tell you what I lost: Anger, ego, greed, depression, insecurity, and fear of death.” Sometimes, the answer to our prayers is not gaining but losing; which ultimately is the gain.
- In fact prayer helps you to lose many things which become a stumbling block in our journey towards Holiness. On the other hand we also gain many things in and through the prayer. For example, peace of mind, happiness, integrity in life, confidence to face any kinds of crisis in life etc
6) Prayer makes impossible as possible
- Prayer has the power to make the impossible as possible, Unthinkable as thinkable and unreachable as reachable.
- It is in the context of transfiguration takes place, heavenly glory was revealed, Holy persons appeared, the disciples saw the extraordinary things and finally heard the voice, You are My Son, with whom I am well pleased. All these took place in and through the prayer.
- In His public ministry Jesus has proved this point and with the power of Prayer He had made possible what was impossible for us
- Later even the disciples with the power of Prayer performed the impossible things and they were able to perform miracles.
7) Prayer is a powerful weapon
- Pray sincerely and Change is sure. Every prayer is powerful and we have the responsibility to make every prayer as a powerful weapon.
- Prayer, the most powerful weapon against trials, the more effective medicine against sickness and the most valuable gift to give someone you love.
- Nobody has ever become poor by praying. Rather prayer has made them rich and powerful
God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.
Fr Maxim D’Souza
Jeppu Seminary
Mangalore
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