Transfiguration of Our Lord
Sunday, February 10th, 2013click here for past entriesLoving God, you invite us into a relationship with you through Jesus, desiring us to undertake all things in communion with you. Teach us to look to you at all times, and remind us of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This picture (on screen) was taken on Mount Tabor in Galilee, which is the traditional site of the Transfiguration of Jesus. I’m the one standing under the tree in my Tilley, being bathed with heavenly light. However, this is not a transfiguration. If somebody is transfigured, it involves a radical change in their outward appearance. They are made glorious or exalted. And so, we could say that Moses was transfigured in our first reading today, as his face had changed and shone with the glory of God (Ex. 34:29). And of course, Jesus was transfigured in today’s gospel, as his face changes and his clothes become dazzling white, and he quite literally emanates the glory of God (Lk. 9:29-31).
One way to understand the transfiguration of Jesus is that both the disciples and us are able to see through Jesus’ humanity to his divinity. When you think about it, what do we usually mean when we say that we can “see right through” somebody? [responses; being able to see the truth; being able to see through deception] Of course, in Jesus’ case, it’s not as if he was lying to anybody. He was fully human – but he was also fully divine – and that divine nature was hidden most of the time that he was on this earth.
In the Orthodox tradition, they recognize several transfigurations – times when we can see through the earthly and the human in order to see the heavenly and the divine. These other transfigurations are all depicted in the church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. These include Jesus’ birth and his resurrection – times when we can see through his humanity in order to glimpse his divinity.
However, also included in these other transfigurations is the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist. Any idea why the Lord’s Supper would be counted as a transfiguration? [responses; Once again, we are able to see through the bread and the wine in order to glimpse Jesus giving himself to us in love.] However, even the bread and the wine remain hidden until we get to the offertory in our worship – hidden under a veil.
Now there was plenty in today’s readings about veils – specifically, the veil that Moses wore when his face was shining with the glory of God. Two different explanations are given for why Moses wore a veil. According to Exodus, he wore it because the people were afraid to look at the glory of God, in case they might die. However, according to Paul, Moses didn’t want them to see the glory fading. In either case, the purpose of the veil was to hide his face.
When you think about veils today, what sort of uses come to mind? [weddings, first communion, Muslim women, nuns] When it comes to bridal veils, do any of you know what the symbolism is? [responses] The veil is actually a symbol of virginity, and traditionally the veil would be lifted by the groom only after the exchange of vows. And so, the lifting of the veil was a symbol of the consummation of the marriage. The same sort of language was used when women became nuns. They were “taking the veil,” which meant that they were taking their virginity and consecrating it to Christ. In each case, the veil is a symbol of purity and holiness.
It may be that for some Muslim women, it is a similar symbol, as some report feeling closer to God when they are wearing a veil. This actually makes sense when you think about veils that cover something that is holy. The veil that covers the communion elements is used in this way. The veil or the curtain that used to surround the Holy of Holies was used in this way. The veil that hid Moses’ face, also covered the glory of God. And sometimes the cloud that appears on the mountain top, whether with Moses or Jesus, is thought of as a veil.
However, once the veil is removed, the divine Presence is revealed. Once the veil is removed, the truth is revealed. Once the veil is removed, we are part of the intimate relationship between Christ and the church and are able to see the glory of God as in a mirror, dimly (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Cor. 13:12).
For most of us, while there may be times when the divine Presence is revealed to us and we glimpse the glory of God, most of our lives are lived amidst the kind of chaos that the disciples experienced after coming down from the mountain. And, just like the disciples, we have a tendency to forget. We forget to listen to Jesus. We forget about the presence and power of God. We forget how much we need help, and we forget to pray.
For the disciples, it didn’t take very long to forget. It is only the next day when they are confronted with a man whose son is in desperate need of healing. The disciples try to heal the man’s son, but are unsuccessful. While Luke doesn’t tell us why the disciples were unable to help, according to the other gospels it went something like this: The disciples said, “Bring him here. We will heal him.” And then they tried to cast out the evil spirit. The thing is, though, that they tried to do it by their own power. They forgot to pray. They forgot to acknowledge that only God can heal. They forgot to use the name of Jesus.
Really, how often do we do the same thing? How often do we act as if it’s all up to us and there really is no power outside of ourselves? How often do we forget to pray and forget that this is God’s church, and that God is the one with the real power? How often do we make decisions without prayer and without even stopping to consider what God’s will might be? How often do we try to do things all by ourselves, totally ignoring the presence and power of God? And how often do we try to veil the truth, forgetting that all that is hidden will be made known?
Thankfully, however, our God does not forget us. Whether it is in a cloud on the mountain top or in the midst of illness or in the midst of our anxiety and fear, God is there. In fact, God is not only there, but shares in our suffering and in our sorrows and in our rejection through Jesus Christ. At the same time, God knows what it is to laugh and to feast and to be full of joy, for Jesus experienced these things as well. God’s desire is to be in relationship with us at all times and in all places, and this is made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Thus, as we gather together today, we are reminded of those times when we have been privileged to glimpse the glory of God. At the same time, we are reminded that God is near at all times, and especially when we are in need. God has, in fact, lifted the veil that separated the every-day from the holy and now lives among us in the communion of saints. Thanks be to God for this marvellous gift of grace! Amen.
Transfiguration of Our Lord (C) Luke 9:28-43a
February 10, 2013 2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church Exodus 34:29-35
Pastor Lynne Hutchison
© 2013 Lynne Hutchison All Rights Reserved
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