27 Feb Sunday, February 27, 2022
Today’s gospel reading doesn’t begin like the next episode of a sequel should by stating, “Previously on “Jesus the Messiah”. Rather, it begins by making a statement that tells us nothing of what happened eight days prior. “After these sayings,” what sayings? Let me provide a quick recap.
Previously, in vs. 20, Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers correctly, God’s Messiah/Anointed One. At that, Jesus orders all the disciples to say no more. Then Jesus tells them how he must suffer:dying at the hands of elders, priests and experts in the law, then be raised on the third day.
He describes how his followers must deny themselves, pick up their crosses, lose their life to save it, not be ashamed of him and his words. Finally, he says that some of those standing will not die before seeing the kingdom of God.
This week’s episode begins with Jesus taking Peter, James and John up a mountain. That in itself isn’t unusual nor probably took much convincing.
If his disciples were like most companions, adventure begins by one taking the lead. Suggest somewhere to go and something to do. Others decide to go just to see what’ll happen, to get away, or do something different.
Jesus already knew what would happen, why he was going and why he’d invited them. They’d go up the mountain to not only say prayers, but make prayers. In fact today’s prayers of intercession were written by disciples-in-training, the confirmation class.
Let’s pivot and consider something else. Where, when, and for how long things happen in the Bible is always worth noting. Religious and cultural symbolism is frequently involved. Numbers and descriptions affirm the norm and suggest ideals or else provide contrast.
So no longer are Jesus and three disciples standing on the plain or walking through the valley. They’ve gone up a mountain, away from earth toward heaven. When amazing things happen, they begin while Jesus prays.
By way of a narrative account, or story, the author invites the reader to witness events as they unfold. Like a scrolling band at the bottom of your screen, the gospel advertises LIVE COVERAGE. We are there, watching and observing with Peter, James and John.
Like Peter, what is seen and heard is filtered through our own perspective so it overlaps with what’s actually happening. A mix of fear and excitement tells us that things closer to heaven appear different. In fact, they must be.
Where glory appears, one expects amazing, right? I found it interesting to see the president of Ukraine yell, “For the glory of Ukraine,” this week on TV. Broadcasters have spoken of Olympic glory for weeks on end. What is glory? Something sought and treasured by a few, or an experience intended for all?
Peter, James and John were there to validate our experience of seeing God in our midst. Peter, who answers wrong as often as right, represents us. He has a tendency to personalize his experience and interpret what God does in his own way. He makes plans and is ready to act before getting God’s full message. He learns he cannot add or take away from what is or what God intends.
God may not deliver what we expect. Sometimes we’ll fuss about what’s real or fake, but God offers chances. As an example, let’s say part of the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies were simulated and not real. It wouldn’t be fair to say their goal was simply to “put on a good face”.
What they did was offer something special and spectacular for all the world to experience at once. Not just the few who were privileged to be in attendance, during the Olympics or the transfiguration. Those who were there weren’t the only ones able to celebrate what happened. Others got the chance, or at least I hope they did, to witness it from afar.
What happened that day on the mountain was no simulation. The people in attendance, Peter, James and John, were dazzled and witnessed real transformation while Jesus prayed. Don’t forget that part. You’ve heard that prayer changes things because it does. It can change us and the way we see, how we experience and interpret what we know, and what story we’ll end up sharing about it.
While Jesus prayed, color and light changed from their usual intensity to something unusual. 3-D forms in the likeness of Moses and Elijah appear before Peter, James and John as they witnessed God’s glory. Larger-than-life and clear as day, what they saw was better than even what we’re used to: giant screens and premium cable channels.
On the mountain, Jesus’ disciples share his experience. They live through something that gives reason to believe. They can imagine God’s glory in the future. So we don’t forget that we, too, have reason to believe and can hope to share God’s glory, remember this.
Brilliance overtook Jesus’ face like a flash of lightning. Whenever you notice bright light, take it as a personal sign, a reminder that God wants to share glory with you. By definition glory belongs to God alone. But, glory can also mean experiencing God in a tangible way.
What if celebrating Transfiguration Sunday doesn’t touch or move you in the least? So what? We talked about a unique thing that happened once to Moses, then Jesus. Is this like a bye week in sports, where the team has off with regard to social relevance? Why talk about transfiguration? What difference does it make to know who wore a veil or why?
Doesn’t naming who got to encounter God directly exclude those who didn’t? Is being a witness from afar really as good as being there in person? Why read about Moses coming off the mountain and people freaking out over his look?
Because in many ways, the stories of the Israelites and disciples IS our story. Although they existed in another place, time and at a different level of religious understanding, their behavior parallels western culture. Like them, the closer we get to seeing something strange and unfamiliar, the more we freak out and avoid it. Whenever God tries to intervene, make a real impact or encounter us directly, we put barriers up.
A point worth making is this, “God is astonishing, providing instruction and experience to people when they need it, making their lives meaningful, fulfilling and worthwhile. A veil wasn’t needed for Moses to encounter God. Neither do we need to hide or cover ourselves. What the veil demonstrates is God’s willingness to accommodate our inability to face the unknown, what’s fearful or causes us confusion.
I heard something interesting this week about the difference between feelings and emotion. The idea stuck with me because it was the opposite of what I guessed. Emotion is the reaction of your body to stimuli. Feelings are how you interpret what happens.
In other words, emotions and feelings aren’t necessarily good or bad. Emotions more or less happen, but feelings are more of a choice. They can be good, bad or just a way to communicate. The next time your body reacts, place your hand over the spot where you sense something.
The invitation Jesus extends to his disciples follows this principle of natural inclination. Emotions and feelings are companions much like Jesus and his disciples. They become familiar with each other and stay in touch. They communicate, asking questions and providing feedback. Knowing each other well makes decisions easier and more accurate. The timing and method of operations improves.
God knows our natural inclinations and pays attention to them deciding who to include on each path of our journeys. God helps followers see glory in ways they can handle it because if glory is how humans perceive the manifestation of God’s presence, but can’t perceive it, we won’t see, find reason to believe or hope to share God’s glory.
This is a sad fact about so many of our children who no longer come to church or who no longer acknowledge God’s presence in their lives. Unless we at least glimpse God’s presence in small or big ways, the glory of the Lord cannot become apparent. Or can it?
I believe that in our bodies and through our minds, God is still at work helping each person make progress from one degree to another through the work of the Holy Spirit. I believe that some form of God’s Spirit is given to all to encourage them to not lose heart or die. Shame was never meant to drive people away, but to commend them to the conscience of each other in the sight of God. Why? So all parties could receive intervention, comfort or healing by God’s presence.
These are the themes in today’s prayers of intercession: a desire for peace and preservation, protection, health and healing, mercy, God’s presence during uncertainty and storm, recognition of families we’re blessed with and empathy for those in need, gratitude, wisdom and strength for the past and future. Disciples-in-training, young people in grades six through eight seem to fully understand the point of joining Jesus in prayer on the mountain.
One of my favorite lines in Les Miserables (Leh Mee-zeh-rah-bluh) is uttered by the dying character Jean Valjean. “To love another person is to see the face of God.” If you think about it, Jesus was also a dying character who, like Valjean, had a burning desire to tell those he’d leave behind that love will indeed transfigure suffering, change its form and appearance. Let us pray.
Jesus, your love’s the brightest light ever known, able to transfigure a face and invite others to shine. Shine your glory over the present and future. Improve upon the past and restore balance to creation. Our world is blemished, but beautiful. Not innocent, but still somehow pure. Only you can sustain earthly life without conflict and eternal life. Eliminate harm toward self and each other and damage toward your intentions and our universe. In Your Holy Name We Pray, Amen.