When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Matthew 17:6-8
Jesus had to reassure His disciples that everything was still alright. Their tradition had taught for hundreds of years that sinful humans could not live through a face-to-face meeting with God. Obviously they were frightened.
When they get up as Jesus tells them, they find themselves alone with Him. Was it a vision or a dream? That’s not what Jesus would have us ask. We should be thinking about what was shared with us, what we learned in this encounter, not how it happened.
While we know God is constant and consistent, He is trying to reach us in a different way through the presence of Jesus. He is and always will be God Almighty, but He is also Jesus our brother, the loving teacher who came to show us the way back to a relationship with God. Through this connection we must listen and learn how God wants to be part of all we say and do.
Loving Lord, we are thankful for Your presence in our lives. Help us to hear the lessons You teach and share them with all the world. Amen.