Word to the Wise
Thursday, August 6, 2015 - Aug. 6 - The Transfiguration of the Lord
[Dan 7:9-10, 13-14; 2 Pet 1:16-19; A: Matt 17:1-9 B: Mark 9:2-10 C: Luke 9:28b-36,1237]"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." [Mark]
The "transfiguration" of Jesus was clearly part of the tradition about Jesus which all three of the synoptic gospels recounted. All three also place it after Jesus' prediction of his passion and resurrection. All three mention that only Peter, James and John were there and that it took place on a mountain top. Elijah and Moses are mentioned in the vision along with the voice from a cloud. What are we to make of this?
Jesus' death and resurrection were in the future, a future that his disciples could not fathom. One way to understand it is that Peter, James and John - the inner circle - had to be shown a vision of Jesus' glorification to help them understand what the goal of his suffering and death would be. They had to be told to listen to Jesus and not deny what he was predicting. The results were mixed! Peter just wants to prolong the experience. Rising from the dead was yet another thing beyond their understanding. Indeed, in the gospel of Mark, they don't understand until the death and resurrection of Jesus.
I see this as part of the "big picture" in the relating of the story of Jesus, which is what the gospels were trying to do. Jesus is more than a wandering wonder-worker and preacher. We can focus too much on his human ministry on earth and ignore his entire identity. The second scripture for this feast, from 2 Peter, indicates how this "big picture" took its place in the preaching about Jesus. The prophetic message and the fulfillment of the law are represented in the presence of Moses and Elijah. Time is suspended on that mountain top and we are privileged to be there. But once it's over we have to go down and join Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem. AMEN
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