After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

Dr. Crowe's discovery of what to do for Cole was not complicated. As he studied his own behavior with a former patient, he realized that he simply had not listened to him. Listening, indeed, is not complicated, but it is very difficult. We are much more in tune with what we want and our own needs than we are with others. So Cole (and the movie-goer) was only scared--his own reaction to the situation; in reality, the only thing the "dead people" wanted was to be heard, to be listened to. 

There is a profound lesson in this session of the movie "The Sixth Sense." The essence of communication, the very soul of it, is to be able to listen to another. For example, as significant as formal prayer is, it is not the highest form of prayer. The highest form of prayer is meditation or contemplation that in essence, is nothing more than listening to God. It is what the voice of God called Christians to do at the scene of Jesus' Transfiguration. If we truly listen to Jesus by imitating his actions and following his directions, we will be living the Christian life.

Christians must imitate the lesson of listening to God in their daily lives as well. But, they should not only listen to God; they should learn in the same way, to listen to others. It is what might be called listening with the heart, that is, listening in such a way that we capture how another feels and why they feel the way they do. Mothers and fathers do it all the time with their small children who cannot talk. Truly communicating people will practice it every time they want to convey something to another. It is a lesson that all of us can and should learn.                   

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you spoke to us at your Son's Transfiguration, telling us to listen to Jesus. Help us not only learn to listen with our minds, but also with our hearts so that we can truly follow your will. At the same time, give us the grace to be able to truly listen to others. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America