• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Migration
    • Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
    • The Global Migration Crisis: What Can a Retreat Center Do?
  • Laudato Si’
    • Laudato Si’ 2023-24 Report and 2024-25 Plan
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing
      • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
      • Hints for Sustainable Meetings and Events
      • Sustainable Living Hints
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Come and See Holy Week Discernment Retreat
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Province Leadership
    • Vocation Resources
    • Passionist Brothers
    • The Life of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • World Day for Consecrated Life
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
      • St. Gemma Circle of Giving Intentions
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Passionist History: Webinar Series
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, August 6, 2014

Feast of the Transfiguration

Scripture:

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14
2 Peter: 1: 16-19
Matthew 17: 1-9

Reflection:

In the first reading we are told about Daniel’s vision of God’s glory. In the second reading Peter recalls the vision that he, James and John had of the majesty of Jesus. The Gospel reading presents to us the transfiguration, which Peter mentioned in his Second Letter

A football coach encourages the players to envision themselves as winners. A CEO will talk about a vision of the company becoming a leading international manufacturer. John the Apostle had visions which became the basis for his Book of Revelations. St. Francis had a vision of rebuilding the Church. St. Theresa of Avila had visions and spent years trying to understand their deeper meaning. St. Paul of the Cross had visions: "After these visions of the tunic and the sign, God gave me a stronger, compelling desire to gather companions and with the approval of holy Mother Church to found a Congregation…" (Letter to his spiritual director in 1720).

What can be said about religious visions? The Transfiguration gives us some guidance. The vision comes from God and not from ourselves. Jesus invited the three apostles up the mountain. God initiated the vision, not the apostles. Peter wanted to stay in this awesome experience, but he was disregarded and the apostles were steered down the hill with the instruction: "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

A true religious vision will take us beyond ourselves. We enter the bigger picture of life. I am not the center of life; I am not the most important person in the universe. A hallucination is a projection from one’s unconscious mind into the outside world, e.g., delirium tremens experienced by someone withdrawing from alcohol or as a result of a psychotic breakdown. Hallucinations keep us in our own world, a small and self-centered world.

A true religious vision will help make us better prepared to work in the "real" material world. In contrast, the schizophrenic becomes isolated from society and much controlled by hallucinations. Theresa felt no pride, no greatness because of visions. To her, her visions were not the point of her spirituality. Her visions lead her to be of service to God for others.

Notice that Jesus instructed the apostles to remain quiet about the vision, at least until after the resurrection. Visions need time to mature. It is good to be wary when someone claims to have received a vision from God. Visions must be tested, which takes time. Paul of the Cross instructed Agnes Grazi: "I am much afraid that in your frequent imaginary visions you are being tricked by the devil." In fact he said that it was better to remain quiet in prayer and not to be looking for visions. A religious vision must be tested by scripture and spiritual direction. Paul of the Cross revealed his visions to a bishop or a spiritual director. "In this I defer to the judgment of my superiors, submitting to whatever they decide under the grace of the Holy Spirit."

When you feel "the morning star rise in your hearts" don’t be afraid of it. If it is of God, it will do the work God intends. God may communicate through visions even today, but we need to check carefully any such guidance we receive with the Word of God and a qualified spiritual director.

 

Fr. Don Webber, C.P., is Provincial Superior of Holy Cross Province and resides in Chicago.

Footer

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

Name

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2025 | Log in