Transfiguration Sunday
Today is Transfiguration Sunday. Which is why we have white vestments and paraments. The Transfiguration is a fixed Feast Day, always on August 6th, and when it falls on a Sunday, this day is given priority over other readings and we use the Transfiguration readings. Thus, today, we use white, taking a break from our Pentecost green.
The Transfiguration scene that we have in the Gospel passage is read twice a year: once on the last Sunday after the Epiphany and here at the beginning of August. In the middle of the “green” season of Pentecost. It is obviously an important theological truth that the compilers of the lectionary did not want us to miss - we are awoken from the ordinary days of Pentecost and Jesus’ teachings, by the sudden transformation of Jesus and spend time contemplating what this transformation means.
The transfiguration story begins with Jesus taking Peter, John and James up on a mountain to pray. This follows Jesus having just told his disciples earlier in chapter 9 of Luke, that he would undergo great suffering, be rejected and killed, and then rise from the dead. The disciples — the 12-had gone out through the villages as commanded and had been preaching the gospel and healing. Jesus had just fed the 5,000 with loaves and fish, and Peter had confessed when asked, “Who do you say I am?”, that He was “the Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20)
It is upon this recognition of Peter about Jesus, that Jesus then shares the “rest of the story” with his disciples. He shares of what is going to be required of him clearly — he shares of his death and suffering, and then he tells them,
“If any want to become my followers,” Jesus says, “let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:24)
Jesus then takes them up to a mountain to pray. And not all of them, just these three.
There is much compacted into Luke chapter 9.
As they are up on the mountain, there is the dramatic change in Jesus’ countenance, his clothes becoming “dazzling white” as the chosen disciples see something of God’s glory. The Gospel tells us that Jesus was transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah appeared. They realized they were in the presence of God.
Peter then, taking charge, says to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings-one for each of you…”
Peter was certainly not the type of man who thought before he spoke. He was constantly saying things without having the full picture, sometimes impulsively. But he was a man of great heart and one whom Jesus seemed to have a special relationship with. It may have been partly due to Peter’s eagerness, his rawness.
I don’t blame Peter. If I had just heard what Jesus had told me, about his suffering and his death — if the man that I had just come to fully realize was Christ the God was transfigured and transformed before me, I think I would decide, “Hey, you know…in consideration of all those things you just shared with us, and considering this present moment, it is good for us to be here.”
“Master, it is good for us to be here…”
Peter’s proclamation undoubtedly is one of protection and devotion, and ease… “why would we want to go back?” And obviously, “look at this that is happening here!” but they are also words couched in Peter’s need for safety and security… “Master, it is good for us to be here…”
I have a friend who is undergoing some personal change in her life. She has grown and matured in her being, and is finding that it is causing stress in her relationships with others around her — in her marriage and in her family. She likes who she is now and the changes she has made and is making, but those around her are having a difficult time adjusting to the changes in her.
The thing about transformation and transfigurations is, is that they are rarely if ever comfortable.
Transforming ourselves is rarely comfortable. If ever.
Jesus was transfigured before them, affirming to them what they had just been told and what they had just professed believing — that He was God. This transfiguration, following the miracles of healing, the miracles of feeding the 5,000, and the declaration that Jesus would suffer and die, was sort of a moment of hope and confirmation. They truly saw, and not all of them-just the three- , but they witnessed yet another miracle — a supernatural apparition of sorts where Jesus’ face changed and his clothes became dazzling white, and then they heard a voice from a cloud that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.”
Upon hearing that they would have to take up their crosses and follow him, that they would have to deny themselves and take up their crosses daily, - Upon hearing that Jesus was going to suffer and die, this moment of Transfiguration was a sort of balm for their souls. He truly is God, the Glory of God shone through. There was rest and assurance.
This was not the end of the story. Which is why it is appropriate to find it here, in the middle of the Pentecostal season — in the midst of ordinary time. It can be a word to us in the middle of our own journeys. It was a sign of hope before what was surely getting ready to get significantly more difficult.
Jesus had just told them that if they wanted to be His followers that they would have to take up their cross daily and follow him. That those who wanted to save their lives would lose it… (Luke 9:24)
You can’t expect things to stay the same.
We could be like Peter and declare, “Master, it is good for us to be here…” Let’s just keep things like they are. This is a good place. It is comfortable here. We like things how they are.
And he was not wrong. Things had been pretty good up to this point.
But Jesus was asking something more of them. He was asking them to continue on with him for the second half of his journey- to his death and crucifixion, and to give up of themselves and their lives in pursuit of following him.
He has asked the same of us. And he mentioned that it would require a daily sacrifice.
Discipleship does hurt at times. Changing the things that we prioritize to be in line with God’s priorities, that is the work. That is my work. Each day we are being called to “follow him”. Each day we are being asked to make decisions in our interactions that would reflect who we are in Christ and who we are in the world. And our encounter with this transfigured Jesus should make a difference in what decisions we make.
The transfiguration was a spectacular event. An assurance of who Jesus was. He was transfigured and he has asked us to be transformed. And transformations are not comfortable usually - they require work.
What work might be God requiring of you?
Amen.
The Transfiguration scene that we have in the Gospel passage is read twice a year: once on the last Sunday after the Epiphany and here at the beginning of August. In the middle of the “green” season of Pentecost. It is obviously an important theological truth that the compilers of the lectionary did not want us to miss - we are awoken from the ordinary days of Pentecost and Jesus’ teachings, by the sudden transformation of Jesus and spend time contemplating what this transformation means.
The transfiguration story begins with Jesus taking Peter, John and James up on a mountain to pray. This follows Jesus having just told his disciples earlier in chapter 9 of Luke, that he would undergo great suffering, be rejected and killed, and then rise from the dead. The disciples — the 12-had gone out through the villages as commanded and had been preaching the gospel and healing. Jesus had just fed the 5,000 with loaves and fish, and Peter had confessed when asked, “Who do you say I am?”, that He was “the Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20)
It is upon this recognition of Peter about Jesus, that Jesus then shares the “rest of the story” with his disciples. He shares of what is going to be required of him clearly — he shares of his death and suffering, and then he tells them,
“If any want to become my followers,” Jesus says, “let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:24)
Jesus then takes them up to a mountain to pray. And not all of them, just these three.
There is much compacted into Luke chapter 9.
As they are up on the mountain, there is the dramatic change in Jesus’ countenance, his clothes becoming “dazzling white” as the chosen disciples see something of God’s glory. The Gospel tells us that Jesus was transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah appeared. They realized they were in the presence of God.
Peter then, taking charge, says to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings-one for each of you…”
Peter was certainly not the type of man who thought before he spoke. He was constantly saying things without having the full picture, sometimes impulsively. But he was a man of great heart and one whom Jesus seemed to have a special relationship with. It may have been partly due to Peter’s eagerness, his rawness.
I don’t blame Peter. If I had just heard what Jesus had told me, about his suffering and his death — if the man that I had just come to fully realize was Christ the God was transfigured and transformed before me, I think I would decide, “Hey, you know…in consideration of all those things you just shared with us, and considering this present moment, it is good for us to be here.”
“Master, it is good for us to be here…”
Peter’s proclamation undoubtedly is one of protection and devotion, and ease… “why would we want to go back?” And obviously, “look at this that is happening here!” but they are also words couched in Peter’s need for safety and security… “Master, it is good for us to be here…”
I have a friend who is undergoing some personal change in her life. She has grown and matured in her being, and is finding that it is causing stress in her relationships with others around her — in her marriage and in her family. She likes who she is now and the changes she has made and is making, but those around her are having a difficult time adjusting to the changes in her.
The thing about transformation and transfigurations is, is that they are rarely if ever comfortable.
Transforming ourselves is rarely comfortable. If ever.
Jesus was transfigured before them, affirming to them what they had just been told and what they had just professed believing — that He was God. This transfiguration, following the miracles of healing, the miracles of feeding the 5,000, and the declaration that Jesus would suffer and die, was sort of a moment of hope and confirmation. They truly saw, and not all of them-just the three- , but they witnessed yet another miracle — a supernatural apparition of sorts where Jesus’ face changed and his clothes became dazzling white, and then they heard a voice from a cloud that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.”
Upon hearing that they would have to take up their crosses and follow him, that they would have to deny themselves and take up their crosses daily, - Upon hearing that Jesus was going to suffer and die, this moment of Transfiguration was a sort of balm for their souls. He truly is God, the Glory of God shone through. There was rest and assurance.
This was not the end of the story. Which is why it is appropriate to find it here, in the middle of the Pentecostal season — in the midst of ordinary time. It can be a word to us in the middle of our own journeys. It was a sign of hope before what was surely getting ready to get significantly more difficult.
Jesus had just told them that if they wanted to be His followers that they would have to take up their cross daily and follow him. That those who wanted to save their lives would lose it… (Luke 9:24)
You can’t expect things to stay the same.
We could be like Peter and declare, “Master, it is good for us to be here…” Let’s just keep things like they are. This is a good place. It is comfortable here. We like things how they are.
And he was not wrong. Things had been pretty good up to this point.
But Jesus was asking something more of them. He was asking them to continue on with him for the second half of his journey- to his death and crucifixion, and to give up of themselves and their lives in pursuit of following him.
He has asked the same of us. And he mentioned that it would require a daily sacrifice.
Discipleship does hurt at times. Changing the things that we prioritize to be in line with God’s priorities, that is the work. That is my work. Each day we are being called to “follow him”. Each day we are being asked to make decisions in our interactions that would reflect who we are in Christ and who we are in the world. And our encounter with this transfigured Jesus should make a difference in what decisions we make.
The transfiguration was a spectacular event. An assurance of who Jesus was. He was transfigured and he has asked us to be transformed. And transformations are not comfortable usually - they require work.
What work might be God requiring of you?
Amen.