Seeing Differently on Country

I look forward each year to Common Grace’s annual Lent series. This year in particular I was excited by the theme “Seeing Differently”.

I’m always inviting non-Indigenous peoples on the journey with us as Aboriginal peoples to listen deeply and my prayer and hope is that by listening deeply you will see differently.

One of the ways I’m Seeing Differently is through Luke 9:28-36 – the transfiguration. It’s not a passage I have ever preached on nor have I listened to many sermons on. So when I was approached by the podcast Australian Women Preach to share on this passage I excitedly said yes. So, for today’s reflection I invite you to listen to my sermon and message on the podcast Australian Women Preach which you can access here. 

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Luke 9:28-36

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and

John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.  And while he was

praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became

dazzling white.  Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to

him.  They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which

he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  Now Peter and his

companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed

awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.  Just as

they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be

here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for

Elijah”—not knowing what he said.  While he was saying this, a cloud

came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the

cloud.  Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my

Chosen; listen to him!”  When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found

alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things

they had seen.

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I have called people in these lands now called Australia to stay awake - to stay awake to the injustices of the past, and present. In Luke 9:28-36 the disciples see like they have never seen before, encountering Jesus with face changed and clothes dazzling white, and with the appearance of Moses and Elijah, this reminds us that to see God’s glory revealed, we must stay awake, take the journey, and listen to Jesus.

This Lent, may you see like never before, and take the journey which isn’t about giving something up but about change, and practise deep listening.

So I invite you to join me by listening as I share about Seeing Differently on Country, as we take a trip with Jesus from his ministry to the cross. Together may we embrace the beauty, mystery, and surprise of this story of the transfiguration with Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, John, and James, and all of us as community, invited to see Jesus anew – dazzling in light, glory, and love.

Australian Women Preach podcast is an initiative of WATAC (Women and the Australian Church) and the Grail in Australia. It is a podcast that showcases preaching by Christian women from across all denominations, relevant to contemporary Australian life, modelling the Church we want to be: inclusive, diverse and welcoming. 

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Brooke Prentis’ reflection engages with a reading set out by the Revised Common Lectionary for the second Sunday in Lent - Luke 9:28-36.

Discussion Questions

Listen to the 10 minute message and sermon by Brooke Prentis here. 

Where have you encountered Jesus on a trip?

Where have you seen differently on Country - What appeared to you and what was different?

Instead of giving up something for Lent, what practice could you change

or take up for justice?

Prayer

Jesus,

We seek to listen deeply to you –

Through your life and ministry for justice,

Through your transfiguration to see anew,

Through your death and resurrection for love.

We pray for, and with, action for change.

We ask you to challenge us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly

with you.

We surrender in revelation at your beauty, mystery, and surprise.

In your precious and mighty name, Jesus, we pray.

Amen.