The sun shone down brightly as I gripped the hand of my daughter. I glanced with exhilaration and yet terror down into the vast side canyon as we walked along the trail to Bright Angel Point, an overlook at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Up ahead my husband with our son in a sling on his back had made it to the overlook and was helping our other two daughters up onto a huge rock at the end of the point. I climbed up after the girls and sat down to get a better view of the expanse of colorful layers of rock that went down into the ground for nearly a mile and the rocks that jutted up from the canyon floor almost to the top.
The wind blew gently through my hair as I gazed at the natural wonder created by the Colorado River over the course of millions of years, and I felt the splendor of God all around me. If the glory of God is shown so beautifully in nature, then how much more glorious will it be in Heaven?
God’s handiwork in nature is just a small foretaste of the glory to be revealed to us, but the manifestation of divine splendor in the Transfiguration was the real deal. It was so glorious that Saint Peter tried to prolong it by offering to build tents.
The Father responded with these words: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." (Mark 9:7)
The moment ended, and they went back down the mountain. But Saint Peter never forgot the words of the Father. He had experienced the love of the Trinity, and he had nowhere else to go. Sure, he made some mistakes, but he never failed to repent and seek out the glory waiting for him. He listened to the Son to a martyr’s death, and now is in the presence of God for all eternity.
Have you ever had moments where you experienced even just a taste of God’s glory—maybe one that you did not want to end? Jesus is also calling you—Listen to Him. What is He saying to you? If you follow His call, if you listen to Him, He will bring you into His glory, and His kingship shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)
Quiet your hearts today, Sisters. Quiet them and listen to Him.
Susanna Spencer is the Theological Editor for Blessed is She who studied theology and philosophy in her earlier life. She happily cares for her three adorable little girls, toddler boy, and her dear husband in Saint Paul when not writing and editing. She loves beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious meals, baking amazing sweets, reading good books, raising her children, casually following baseball, and talking to her philosopher husband. You can find out more about her here. She is the Theological Editor of both the Catechism Studies and the Mystery Studies.
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