Be Transfigured Ministries

A New Beginning Calls for a Radical Change

“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come.” (Hebrews 9.11) These words of encouragement from Saint Paul are meant to lead to hope in the future Kingdom of Heaven. But sometimes that future Kingdom is out of our reach unless we make a radical change in our lives. On the last Sunday of Great Lent the Church commemorates Saint Mary of Egypt and her radical change away from prostitution toward the Lord through repentance. We are each challenged to repentance and leave the world of sin behind for the “good things to come” and the Kingdom of Heaven.

It’s Time to Renounce the World

A sense of being tired and wearied is not uncommon for our Christian journey. In fact, for centuries the People of God, in the Old Testament and in Christian times, have struggled to maintain their patience and faith that God will fulfill His promise to rescue His people. At the most difficult moments and under the constant attack of the demons, we are often tempted to depart from the Christian life in exchange for what we already know and the familiar environment of the fallen world. It is in those moments that we must be willing to renounce the world, cast away the demons and their attacks, and endure the struggle of the Christian journey for the glory of God.

The Church as our Trainer

When Jesus invites us to take up our cross and follow Him, He wants us to know He understands our struggle. He was mocked. He was beaten. He was lied about. He was spit upon. He was eventually killed. So when He asks us to fast and embrace the struggle that is the Christian life, we can be assured that He knows the way. He also left us His Church, His Holy Apostles, His Saints, His Sacraments, and His Grace to help us in our time of need. We only need to believe the Church knows how to guide us. After 2000 years of following Jesus Christ, the Church knows the way. Now it’s our turn to listen and follow her advice.

Lest You Drift Away

In his letter to the Hebrews, Saint Paul said, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” (Hebrews 2.1) This warning is just as relevant for us today as we struggle to remain on course in our journey to Heaven. Just as we need a working compass and accurate map to keep us on course, the Church and Her way of life will help keep us on course. For those times when we find we have drifted, even slightly, Great Lent presents us with an excellent opportunity to repent and get our lives back on course.

Ready or Not, Here Comes Lent!

On the day before Great and Holy Lent begins, Forgiveness Sunday, the Church offers us one final pep talk to prepare us for the Great Fast.  The success of our Lenten journey depends upon forgiveness, proper fasting, and placing the needs of others above ourselves. The time for preparation has past and now we are ready to make the most of our Lenten journey to Pascha.

You Have Been Warned!

God offers a rich blessing in describing for us how the final judgment will take place. “I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirst and you gave me a drink.” It is when our hearts have been tuned in to God and transformed into loving hearts that our actions toward others express the love the God has in our hearts. On the other hand, it when we do not allow God’s love to change our hearts that He says, “Depart from Me. I was hungry and you gave me no food.” When you hear this clear warning about the final judgment, do you a) put your faith into action and allow God’s love to change your heart, or do you b) remain focused upon yourself and wonder why Jesus would bother asking about feeding the poor? It’s your decision; it’s your future.

It’s Time to Come to Your Senses!

When the Prodigal Son was able to put aside his pride and “come to himself,” and return to his father, he was not only forgiven by his father, he was fully restored to his original place. When we can come to our senses and return to God He will not only forgive us, He will run and join us on the road and walk with us as we journey back to His House. The Triodion is a time for reflection and repentance and restoration by God. Engage the journey!

We All Need God's Mercy

The only way for us to benefit from our Lenten journey is to first put away our pride and admit that we need God’s mercy. We can’t go it alone on this one. Jesus uses the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee to illustrate just how difficult it is for to be justified by God when we allow our pride to rule our hearts. Jesus said it was the humble sinner, “went down to his house justified rather than the other.” (Luke 18.14) Don’t you want to be justified by God?

What are You Doing with What God has Given You?

Each of us has received gifts from God for the glory of His Kingdom and the work of His Church. Many of us waste time, either in fear or selfishness, when we keep these gifts hidden from others. The servants who use the gifts God has given for the glory of God and the good of others are blessed by God and invited to “enter into the joy of the Lord,” in the Kingdom to come.  God has given YOU gifts and is waiting for YOU to do something good with those gifts. So……what are YOU doing with the gifts God has given you?

Did He Just Call Me a Sinner?

Jesus’ commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” is more than just a commandment to treat others the same way we would treat ourselves. It is a challenge for us to see others as we see ourselves. In fact, we are called to see ourselves just as we see others, as sinners. The difficult part is to admit that, first and foremost, we are not better than anyone else; as Saint Paul teaches, we are all fallen short of the glory of God. If all fall short, then all are sinners. And if all are sinners, that includes us…