The vision was given so that the apostles would listen. (Sounds like it could be the opening line of a new rap song: The vision was given so that the apostles would listen.) It was given so that they would listen to Jesus! You see, God the Father wanted his Son’s disciples to be strong on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, when their world would appear to be falling apart all around them. But he knew that their strength during those days would be directly proportional to the faith they put in the words of Jesus. The words, for example, which Jesus would speak to them at the Last Supper: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God [the Father] and have faith in me;" the words he spoke to them when he three times predicted that he would rise from the dead; the words he spoke when he said he would not leave them orphans. If the apostles really believed all of those things—and our Lord’s many other promises—God the Father knew they would be strong in the face of Jesus’ passion and death. And so the Father provided them with this beautiful vision of Jesus in conversation with Elijah and Moses (making it clear that our Lord was indeed the messiah they had been waiting for), and then he said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." The vision was given so that the apostles would listen—and believe—and thus be strong.

To us the Word of God is given at this Mass (and at every Mass) so that we will listen—and believe—and be strengthened as the Lord’s disciples.

Did you listen to what the Lord said to you today through the Scriptures you just heard?

For example, if you are experiencing a difficult trial over which you have no control (like a serious illness), God said to you, "I am in control. Jesus, my only begotten Son fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel 7 found in your first reading. He is the Son of Man whose dominion is everlasting and whose kingship can never be destroyed. Know that he is mysteriously in control, even when everything seems out of control."

If you are struggling to cope with a terrible injustice, God said to you, "Fear not; as Psalm 97 says (the psalm you prayed a few moments ago), ‘justice and judgment are the foundation of [my] throne.’ In my eternal kingdom, you will experience perfect justice (and perfect mercy), even if you experience neither here on this earth."

If you are confused about the truth, God said, "Trust my witnesses, the apostles. As Peter told you in your second reading, they do not teach ‘cleverly devised myths,’ they teach you the truth which they personally learned and experienced in Christ Jesus."

If you are looking for guidance and direction, God said (again through Peter), "Look to my Word. It contains the ‘prophetic message’ which is ‘altogether reliable.’ It’s like a lamp which will guide your life morally and spiritually."

If you have questions about your faith, God said to you through today’s Gospel story, "So did my Son’s apostles have questions. As you heard a few moments ago, they initially didn’t understand what he meant when he told them he’d someday rise from the dead. But the apostles stayed close to Jesus, and their questions were eventually answered. You must do the same."

These are just a few of the messages God gave us this morning. "But, Father Ray, messages like these are easy to miss." That’s right! That’s exactly right! Which is why we must always listen attentively to the Word of God with open ears and open hearts! How often have you heard someone say, "I don’t get anything out of Mass"? Bishop Sheen used to respond to that objection by saying, "That’s because you don’t put anything into it!" To hear what God wants to say to us at Mass, we must put effort into listening.