Finding Our True Identity

This week we are given the story of Jesus’s transfiguration- “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” (Lk9:29) The identity of Jesus was revealed on the mountain when he was “heart to heart” in prayer with His Father.

Thomas Merton explains the link between prayer and self-identity- he says that through this intimate dialogue with God – we discover God and our true selves.

“The secret of my identity is hidden in the love and mercy of God. … Therefore I cannot hope to find myself anywhere except in him. … Therefore there is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace and my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God. If I find Him, I will find myself, and if I find my true self I will find him” (pp. 34-36). Thomas Merton – New Seeds of Contemplation

He adds that this discovery is crucial to our vocation. Through prayer, we are able to work hand in hand with God in the creation of our own life. “Our vocation is not simply to be, but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny.”

Prayer has the power to transform us because “prayer is what opens the door to the Holy Spirit” said Pope Francis. Lent is a good time “to raise our hearts and minds to God”- seeking to discover our true selves and allowing him to transform us from within so that others may see Him in us when we shine too.