Attentiveness to God’s Voice amid Noise
When Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain, they were drawn into an extraordinary moment of glory, mystery, and revelation.
Have you ever missed something important because too much was happening around you? A friend says, “Did you see that?” and you reply, “See what?” The moment passed, not because it didn’t happen, but because your attention was elsewhere.
Our lives are full of such distractions. In the midst of the dazzling scene of the Transfiguration, God speaks words that cut through the noise:
“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)
The true glory is not the brightness of the cloud or the appearance of Moses and Elijah, but the voice of God calling the disciples — and us — to listen.
What distracts us from hearing Jesus today? Noise, hurry, anxiety, opinion, and habit all compete for our attention, drowning out the still voice of Christ.
Not long ago we sang:
“O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
and let the angels sing.”
Another hymn reminds us that it is not angels who must listen and then speak, but Christ’s followers:
“When listening prophets dare to speak” (STF 163).
That hymn calls us to hear God’s voice amid the noise of the world and then to live in ways that challenge whatever denies God’s love, justice, and mercy.
Imagine listening to the radio while driving. At first the music is clear, but as you move on, interference creeps in. The broadcast continues, but unless you stop and retune, all you hear is noise.
Faith can be like that. God has not stopped speaking, but the signal is easily lost amid busy lives. The Transfiguration reminds us that we sometimes need to pause, step away from the noise, and retune our hearts — not to hear something new, but to hear more clearly what God has been saying all along: “Listen to him.”
Prayer
O God of the covenant,
in cloud and glory you revealed your Son.
Transform our lives in his image,
write your law of love upon our hearts,
and make us prophets of your glory,
that we may lead others into your presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today, hush the noise, listen for Christ’s voice, and act on what you hear.
