Word to the Wise
Monday, August 6, 2018 - 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-36,685]MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2018 THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD [Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Mark 9:2-10] We did not follow cleverly revised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. [2 Peter] Despite the name on 2 Peter, it is one of the later epistles in the New Testament. Nevertheless it preserves the memory of the event that tradition calls the “Transfiguration.” Like so many important events in the scriptures, this occurs on a mountain. (I have been up the mountain that tradition assigns as the place of the transfiguration, and it is certainly an appropriate site for a revelation!). The gospels according to Mark, Matthew and Luke all preserve the memory of this occasion. Obviously some profound revelation occurred and frightened Peter, James and John so much that they could not talk about it for a long time. As this passage points out, however, it is no “cleverly devised myth.” Jesus showed something to the three apostles that clearly revealed him as the Son of God. That voice resembles the one at Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. We all have our personal visions of Jesus. For some, it is easier to relate to the human preacher of love of God and neighbor. For others it is the crucified and risen savior. For others still the transfigured and glorious Lord is more suitable. All of these are true. On this feast day, we celebrate that transfigured and glorious Son of God. AMEN
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