Dearest e-votees-
This Sunday, Transfiguration Sunday, marks the last Sunday of the season of Epiphany. In this last Sunday of this church season we commemorate perhaps the most unusual revelation of who Jesus is. It is recorded in the three synoptic gospels—Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8 and Luke 9:28-36. May we be blessed as we linger with this strange and powerful, not-of-this-wordly expression of some of who this Jesus is.
Peace,
Karl
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16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
As you ponder the account of the Transfiguration (feel free to go look and come back—we’ll wait) please make your selection as to your response
[ ] You can’t make this stuff up!!!
[ ] It’s too strange not to be true!!!
[ ] Don’t you think I would come up with a better lie?!?
[ ] All of the above
What do you do with an account that involves heroes of the faith long dead and gone chatting as if nothing of the sort had happened to them? What do you do with a voice speaking from the heavens echoing the words at the river Jordan when Jesus was baptized? What do you do with clothes whiter than anyone could ever bleach them? (and how did Mark become such an expert on the upper limits of whitening abilities of global laundering facilities?) What do you do with a powerful revelation that is supposed to be kept under wraps until (as Matthew records) Jesus is unwrapped from the grave cloths? What do you do with an account like this?
There are so many moments that could have been cited in our assigned text from 2 Peter but the one chosen is a quotation from the Transfiguration—not the feeding of the 5,000 (besides women and children); not the walking on water; not the raising of Lazarus; not the powerful parables; not the confrontations with the civil and religious authorities; not the words from the cross and not the words from the resurrected Jesus. Apparently the Transfiguration made quite the impression. A moment so compelling that it trumps “cleverly devised myths” even though it sounds suspiciously like one of them.
We are blessed to be recipients of a God who comes into the world in unexpected and undeniable ways. Ways that speak prophetically and at the same time paradoxically beckon us to linger (making shelters) and cause us to cover in holy fear. Ways that defy logic and reason and yet bear deep and lasting testimony that marks us indelibly for our earthly lives and our lives that persist beyond this mortal coil. Ways that speak in deep and resounding voices that make Morgan Freeman and James Earl Jones (and for those who know him, Frank Olson) seem like Alvin and the Chipmunks on helium. Ways that trump the shallow hucksterism and consumer voyeurism of our covetous society and show us the one this that is true and lasting and needful.
May we all be attentive to this lamp burning in our midst and in our hearts. May we let our lights so shine in response that others can help but see past us to our Father in heaven and give glory. May we let the illusory lights of Hollywood and spotlights that we desire to point our way and the glitz and glimmer of the newest gizmo fade in comparison to the Light and the Truth and the Way.
God, reveal yourself to us again in the person of Jesus. Help us be transformed and transfixed. Use us to proclaim your glory. Amen.
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