Call Me Crazy

In today's Gospel, from Matthew, Jesus brings his new friends up to the top of a mountain, where he begins to glow. Two legends of the scriptures appear, conversing with him. And then a voice from above—God?—declares himself to be Jesus' father. No wonder the apostles "were very much afraid"!

This passage really stopped me: 

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

It's almost like: If you tell anyone about this, they'll think you're nuts. They'll think I'm nuts, or a con artist, or both.

I keep going back to what Jesus must have been thinking and feeling as these events were unfolding.  I bet he was as scared, confused, and awe-struck as Peter, James, and John were! This would be a moment that could drive Jesus to answer his call with the ultimate conviction, but it also could have sent him running for the hills.  And who could blame his disciples if they'd gone running?

This had to be a transformative experience for everyone present. I can't even imagine the kind of courage it took for each of them to embrace this wild unknown, to accept this improbable encounter.

I pray for the courage to accept challenges and invitations, however frightening and improbable they may seem. I pray that I can trust myself to recognize God's invitations, that I can trust in his wisdom and will for me, and that I will enjoy his mercy when I might falter.