Word to the Wise
Sunday, March 16, 2014 - 2nd Sunday of Lent - A
[Gen 12:1-4a; 2 Tim 1:8b-10; Matt 17:1-9]This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.
We've heard this before! The same words were spoken at the Jordan river when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist! The Gospel of Matthew at that point does not describe any "audience reaction!" Today, on a "high mountain," where Jesus does many other important things in this gospel (like Moses) such as the Sermon on the Mount and the naming of the apostles, he reveals himself in a profound way to Peter, James and John! Their reaction is fear!
In our day, the reaction is more like puzzlement, and that includes scripture scholars! Why do all three of the synoptic gospels (Mt., Mk., Lk.) mention this incident? What is its purpose in telling the story of Jesus? Some scholars believe the event occurred after Jesus' resurrection and the account is "retrojected" back into the overall story. Others place it in the context of Jesus' predictions of his suffering, death and resurrection as a fulfillment of the prophecy about the "Suffering Servant" in Isaiah 42:1, etc.. I can only offer my own perspective, which is that of a preacher.
I see the four gospels each as an extended sermon or "preaching." Part of any good preaching is story-telling. Three of the gospels are clearly using some of the same material but add some of their own. John works from a different set of resources. The event of the "transfiguration" was also part of the experience of Jesus that made its way into the story. We are told that the three apostles were scared to death and did not talk about the event till after Jesus' resurrection! Nevertheless, Jesus is revealed a second time as the "beloved Son" and this serves as a reminder to us in the middle of the story who the "protagonist" truly is and that we must keep this in mind as the story moves on. If the "rule of three" in story-telling holds true, then the third revelation comes at the crucifixion when the frightened centurion confesses: "Truly, this was the Son of God."
The whole purpose of the gospel is to preach the truth about Jesus. Matthew tells the story in his own way. The three apostles on the mountain no doubt told it originally in their own way. The "transfiguration" plays its part in the story of Jesus and reminds us today that he is indeed the "beloved Son" in whom the Father is well pleased and that we must "listen to him." AMEN
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