Be Transfigured Ministries

Loyalty and Dedication Has it Rewards

In so many ways our lives are the fruit of our hard work. Whether it is our employers or our families, we all know the benefit of hard work. But when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ and His Church, nothing replaces loyalty and dedication to His Saving Mission. When the Myrrhbearing women waited to see where Jesus was buried, rather than running to safety with the rest of the Disciples, their loyalty was rewarded by God. It was the Myrrhbearing women who knew where to tomb was and were able to receive the Good News of Christ’s Glorious Resurrection before anyone else. They became the first evangelists when they shared the news of the Resurrection with the Disciples. God will also bless us when we show Him and His Church the same loyalty and dedication as the Myrrhbearing women.

Faith, Courage, and Conviction; Honoring Our Mothers

When we think of our mothers, we think of the courage of compassion in the face of bumps and bruises and broken hearts. When we think of our mothers, we think of the conviction to stand up for the truth and her family. When we think of our mothers, we think of the faith they have in Christ and their dedication to nurturing that faith in our hearts. When we honor our earthly mothers, we honor the Divine Mother of God who expressed the traits of a devoted loving mother.

Jesus as King on Palm Sunday

Hosanna! Blessed is He Who Comes in the name of the Lord! Jesus comes to us as the King of Peace, the King of Glory, the King of Kings, but never with the force and pride of an Earthly King. Jesus as King is our protector and provider, defender and victor over our enemy. In return we are invited to allow Him to use our heart as His divine throne so He can rule our lives and protect us from within.

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!