Transforming Reflection into Action
Today’s Weekly Reflection is written by Syndie Saint-Hilaire, CMMB Haiti.
For us at CMMB Haiti, Lent is a sacred time of reflection and preparation. With the constant threats of insecurity in my country, it can be hard to make space to pause and reflect. But my colleagues and I find that reflection helps us to overcome challenges, recognize our inner potential, and act on CMMB’s mission. Lent is a time to slow down, self-reflect, and draw our faith closer. In this season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, I am embracing the invitation to ascend my own spiritual mountains, just as Jesus did with His disciples.
The Transfiguration of Jesus, as recounted in Luke 9:28b-36, is an awe-inspiring moment in the Gospels. First, we see Jesus taking His closest disciples up the mountain to pray. Prayer is at the heart of this Gospel. Prayer is also at the heart of my reflections and, in many ways, my work. I am inspired by my faith and seek strength and wisdom to best serve those around me.
As Jesus prays, His appearance changes, and He is seen conversing with Moses and Elijah. This reminds me that my faith is not only rooted in reflection but also in action—so that I can strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, bringing His love to women and children who are suffering due to poverty, illness, or inequity.
When I read what happens next in today’s Gospel, I think about the times I find myself trying to hold on to a certain moment, place, or comfort. I see Peter on the mountaintop, overwhelmed by the events unfolding before him. I see him search for ways to remain in that sacred moment. It makes me question how often, we too, desire to hold on to things.
A voice interrupts Peter, proclaiming, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” For me and many of my colleagues, listening to Jesus means listening to the needs of the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable. It means using this time of reflection to act with greater compassion.
After the vision fades, Jesus stands alone with the disciples, who now know Jesus’s true identity. This is a reminder that even when the miraculous fades, even when I am witness to so much tragedy and uncertainty in my country, I know that Jesus is present. Faith is not dependent on signs and wonders but on trust that Jesus walks with me, especially during times of hardship.
During this season of Lent, I wish you transformation, not just in moments of reflection but in the way we live each day, carrying light into the world to uplift those in need.