"O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen."
Every time a child is born I hear parents and grandparents say how she or he looks like. Funny thing is that the mother's side says the child looks more like the mother and the father's side will say the child looks more like the father. It doesn't matter whom the child looks like, what we are looking for is the resemblance of ourselves. Seeing our child gives us hope, joy, and a future.
I believe that is what God is looking for in us. It is not that God needs hope from us, but seeing us gives God hope for the world. We are the living hope of God. We need to be changed into looking more like Jesus. Our appearance in our actions and our lives need to be changed into the likeness of Christ. That is what we are praying in here. "Lord help me bear the cross, live love, care for another, and make me look like Christ Himself in all things." It is a tall order, but the right prayer. If not our prayer will be for the selfish ends. I believe if we resemble Christ in our world today all will be well with us, within us, and around us for the right reason.
Blessings
Fr. Jos+
