Dearest e-votees-
This Sunday bookends Epiphany with an echo of the voice we heard at Jesus' baptism.
Jesus, beloved of God, is the one with whom God is pleased. We overhear the charge to listen to him. Our response may be one of fear--dread terror or reverent awe--but nonetheless Jesus will urge us to rise and not be afraid.
For Jesus himself will rise and through his perfect love will drive out all fear.
Peace,
Karl
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This Sunday bookends Epiphany with an echo of the voice we heard at Jesus' baptism.
Jesus, beloved of God, is the one with whom God is pleased. We overhear the charge to listen to him. Our response may be one of fear--dread terror or reverent awe--but nonetheless Jesus will urge us to rise and not be afraid.
For Jesus himself will rise and through his perfect love will drive out all fear.
Peace,
Karl
----------
1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matthew 17:1-9, NRSV
Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets. The exemplar of the law, Moses, is present talking to Jesus. The exemplar of the prophets, Elijah, is part of the conversation too. Luke 24:44 has Jesus saying that he will also fulfill things written of him in the psalms. I wonder why the exemplar of the psalmists, David, wasn't here on this holy mountain as well. Jesus has a conversation with these luminaries of the faith (fitting for a shiny season like Epiphany). Luke 9:31 tells us that they were discussing what Jesus would accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter wanted to stay and to build booths or shelters or tents (most likely a reference to the Old Testament Festival of Booths). Peter wants to make a dwelling for these holy guests and dwell with them. God has other plans that include the cross and the resurrection in Jerusalem. But, in the end, God will make booths or shelters or tabernacles with God's people (see Revelation 21:3). God will indeed choose to restore and redeem and reside with God's people.
Peter was present at so very many of Jesus' miracles and moments of teaching yet the only reference in scripture from the books with Peter's name on them is back to the Mount of Transfiguration. This moment shaped Peter. This moment inspired Peter. This moment revealed God's work to Peter. That is what Epiphany in general and Transfiguration in particular are about. May our commemoration of the last Sunday of Epiphany and the day of Transfiguration shape us and inspire us and reveal God's work to us.
God, thank you for choosing to dwell with us. Give us faith to follow you down the mountain and to where you would lead us. Help us neither fear the cross nor the grave but know that your resurrection assures us of ours too. Help us live into the love that God has for us and for all people. Amen.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Peter wanted to stay and to build booths or shelters or tents (most likely a reference to the Old Testament Festival of Booths). Peter wants to make a dwelling for these holy guests and dwell with them. God has other plans that include the cross and the resurrection in Jerusalem. But, in the end, God will make booths or shelters or tabernacles with God's people (see Revelation 21:3). God will indeed choose to restore and redeem and reside with God's people.
Peter was present at so very many of Jesus' miracles and moments of teaching yet the only reference in scripture from the books with Peter's name on them is back to the Mount of Transfiguration. This moment shaped Peter. This moment inspired Peter. This moment revealed God's work to Peter. That is what Epiphany in general and Transfiguration in particular are about. May our commemoration of the last Sunday of Epiphany and the day of Transfiguration shape us and inspire us and reveal God's work to us.
God, thank you for choosing to dwell with us. Give us faith to follow you down the mountain and to where you would lead us. Help us neither fear the cross nor the grave but know that your resurrection assures us of ours too. Help us live into the love that God has for us and for all people. Amen.
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