Paul helps us to understand how that conversion can begin to take place in our lives. First we need to look for good examples in our life, the example of others who are living the life of Christ more fully. Paul advises us, “Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.” (Phil 3,17) We often need an example to inspire us to a greater life. We have the examples of the lives of the saints and of the ordinary saints that are hidden among us that practice simple charity and goodness. Of course, our greatest example is Jesus Christ himself. He gives us an example of holiness, purity, union with God, unselfish service, abandonment in suffering and ultimate glory in the new life of resurrection.
Jesus gives us a beautiful example of transformation in glory in the gospel of the Transfiguration. He takes the leadership team of the apostles, Peter, James and John, and goes up on the mountain to pray. Our Lenten journey must also be a journey into deeper prayer that will lead us to conversion, transformation and new life. While he is praying he is transfigured before the apostles. He gives them an example of what is being prepared for us in the future. Paul refers to the same truth of our destiny for glory in Philippians, “He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.” (Phil 3,21)
In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul is also referring to our future transformation in glory, “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God;” (Romans 8, 16-19) St. John also writes about this mystery of future glory, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.” (1 John 3, 2-3) We must suffer with Christ if we are also to share in his glory. Our path of conversion and transformation must first pass through the cross of Christ. We should not be “enemies of the cross” as St. Paul says but we should embrace the cross and take up our daily crosses to follow Jesus. The sufferings are nothing compared to the glory to be revealed and so we must seek purity and holiness through a conversion in the Spirit during this season of Lent.