Passports – Citizenship – Ambassadors
March 13, 2022
I can remember the first time I applied for a passport. Upon receiving it, I guarded it and kept it in a locked box. It was brought to my attention as to how valuable it was and how others might want to steal it. It was always well protected when I was traveling. Safeguarding identity also proclaimed who you belonged to, who was going to claim you as their own. Treasuring your passport is essential for global travel. In the second Scripture passage of the day, St Paul invites us to realize our citizenship is of heaven. He invites us to contemplate a new vision of things revealed internally. Who will claim us? God. Who do we belong to? God. How do we get to that kind of confidence?
It is the Second Week in our journey of Lent. This week we are invited to not only climb the mountain to pray, but also respond to all that is revealed to us while we pray. Peter, James and John saw the glory of Jesus. His clothing became dazzling white and the face of Jesus changed in appearance. He is externally praying on a mountain, but internally He is so filled with glory that He is revealed as the Son of God. This movement happens through the depth of prayer. We are invited to go to new depths in our prayer life. We are called to listen to what is being revealed from within. In deep prayer we will hear we are loved. In deep prayer we will hear we are forgiven. We are called to a new confidence.
On Ash Wednesday during the Liturgy of the Word, our second reading reminded us we are ambassadors. Our citizenship is just the first step, we are to live that citizenship of heaven by being an ambassador for eternal life. We do this by seizing the moment and sharing the goodness of God with others. We are to seek moments to walk in confidence and share compassionately our trust in God. An ambassador always sees the opportunity to humbly represent their citizenship. We belong to heaven. May this week find us deep in prayer open to all that will be revealed.
Fr. John