Matthew 17:1-9 9 Epiphany A
Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 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." 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!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
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."
Have you ever met someone who was glowing? Perhaps a woman who was delighted with her pregnancy… or an athlete who had just completed a race and broken the national record… or a child who had just taken their first faltering steps… or two people just fallen in love? There is an interior light that cannot be contained in moments of joy, fulfillment or delight. The thing about glowing moments such as these is, the interior light of the glowing person reaches beyond themselves and touches people around them. It’s hard not to smile and be affected when you meet a glowing person.
ReplyDeleteSo what about Jesus glowing? “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white.” The man Jesus ascended the mountain – the place to which people historically went (Moses and Elijah) for illumination and inspiration, the place they went to encounter and be guided by God. Jesus’ encounter with God was so complete that every cell and every space of his being radiated God’s living Presence. Jesus was in such complete and intimate relationship with God that in a manner of speaking he became a transformer, stepping down the invisible light of transcendent God to become visible in and of and through his person. And the light of the Living God was so transformative that it even set Jesus’ clothes to glowing. In other words, what or who ever touched or came near to Jesus was also transformed in his radiance.
And Peter was transformed. He recognized the Presence of the Living God, called Jesus Lord and said, “It is good for us to be here.” It is good to be in the presence of people who are aglow. We are affected. Our spirits are lifted. Joy is contagious! And it is unspeakably good to be in the Presence of Living God, to walk with Jesus and be transformed in his radiance. I pray the Invisible Light of Christ will shine through my words and my work and make visible Christ’s Holy Presence with us and among us.