6 Aug 2020. Transfiguration of the LORD. Gn 12:1-4a + 2Tm 1:8b-10 + Mt 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them (Mt 17:1-2).

In an organization, the members execute organization goals. Since individual expertise, or personal commitment to goals, or even loyalty to the leadership vary, the leader picks those he could depend upon most in critical situations. He picks a circle of advisors, among whom he picks an inner circle of trustees.

In His ministry, Jesus picked among his disciples twelve apostles to be in His circle. He explained to them teachings that the crowd of disciples had not understood well. He trained them to impart his teachings to the disciples.

From the twelve in this circle, he picked three for His inner circle: Peter, James and John. He tugged along the three to witness His works and revelations (cf. Lk 8:51; Mt 26:37; Mk 14:32-33; Mt 17:1-2).

Scripture scholars can only guess the qualifications Jesus considered in choosing His circle of apostles. Nobody was bright enough to be a scribe or a Pharisee. Scholars can only guess what qualified Peter, James and John to be in His inner circle. They were mere fishermen from Bethsaida; and so was Andrew who was not in the inner circle (cf. Mt 4:18-22). None in his circle were His relatives (cf. Mt 14:55). None, but one, stood by him in crisis (cf. Mt 26:56; 27:55). St. Paul, however, hinted in the second reading: not according to [their] works, but according to His design.

In life, according to author Stephen Covey , there is the inner Circle of Influence, and the outer Circle of Concern. To minimize stress, he suggested anybody to work with the controllable and smaller, inner Circle of Influence, and worry not working with the bigger outer Circle of Concern. VSS

Picture credit: Peter, James and John witness the Transfiguration of Jesus, from jw.org.