In the busyness and hurry of our lives, it’s easy to miss God’s quiet yet constant presence. This sermon invites us into a deeper experience of Lent—not just about giving things up, but about intentionally creating space to notice and encounter God more fully. Using the story of the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-10), we’ll explore how clutter—whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or technological—can keep us from truly experiencing God’s transformative presence.
Discover how sacred pauses, intentional reflection, and simple practices like the Examen can help shift our spiritual lives from hurried activity to attentive listening. Together, we’ll learn to move from trying to control our spiritual journeys to deeply trusting and noticing what God is already doing around us.

Reflection Questions:
1. When have you experienced a moment of being fully present to God’s presence? What circumstances allowed you to slow down and notice Him clearly?
2. Reflect on a time when, like Peter, you rushed to “do something” rather than simply being present. What made it difficult to just be present in that moment?
3. What types of clutter—physical, emotional, spiritual, or technological—most often distract you from recognizing God’s presence?
4. Consider your daily routine—what small changes could help you intentionally create more space for silence, listening, or reflection?
5. How might your life change if your primary response to encountering God’s presence shifted from doing to listening?

The Practice of Awareness (Examen). Each evening before bed, take 5 minutes to reflect on two simple questions:
1. When did I notice God’s presence the most today?
2. When did I notice God’s presence the least today?
3. What would that situation look like if I were more aware of your presence?

Prayer
Gracious God, you are always present, gently speaking into our hurried and cluttered lives. Forgive us for allowing distractions to silence your voice, for the clutter that clouds our vision, and for our tendency to control rather than trust. As you revealed your beloved Son on the mountain, reveal him again today in the ordinary moments of our lives, teaching us to listen patiently to his voice above all others. Help us pause, creating sacred spaces within our daily routines, and awaken our hearts to recognize your loving presence. Transform our hurry into holy stillness, our restlessness into deep trust, and our busy doing into attentive listening. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our ever-present Savior. Amen.