This morning we join Peter, James, and John, as they hike up a mountain with Jesus, so he can take time to pray. We get to see what happens on the mountain through the eyes of these three disciples. What we see is truly amazing. We watch as Jesus’ face suddenly radiates light and his clothing became as white as new-fallen snow. If that wasn’t enough to catch our attention, two men appear and begin talking with Jesus. We soon learn that these two men are none other than the prophet Elijah and Moses the lawgiver. If you were there on the mountain top with Peter, James, and John, what would you make of this?
The three disciples had been with Jesus long enough by this point in the story to have seen some amazing things. They had to know there was something special about him. They’d seen him heal people and feed the five thousand. They’d heard him preach. In fact, just a few days earlier, Peter made the good confession that Jesus is the Messiah (Lk 9:17-20). Nevertheless, this event left the disciples awe-struck. Peter gets so caught up in the moment that offers to build shelters for the three figures, perhaps hoping to extend the moment.
While Peter and his companions try to make sense of what they’re seeing, Luke clues us into the conversation Jesus is having with Moses and Elijah. They’ve come to remind Jesus about the road ahead that will take him to Jerusalem, where he will die and experience resurrection.
Just then, a cloud envelops them and a voice from the cloud proclaims: “This is my Son, the one I have chosen. Listen to him!” (Lk 9:35 First Nation’s Version). With this word from heaven, the circle of Epiphany comes to a close. We began Epiphany on Baptism of Jesus Sunday with a voice from heaven saying to Jesus after his baptism by John: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you, I am well pleased.” (Lk 3:22). Now that word is reaffirmed on the Mount of Transfiguration.
We’ve witnessed here an unveiling of Jesus’ true identity. We’ve been given the opportunity to see the divine light present in Jesus shining through. You might call this a mystical experience or perhaps better a mountaintop experience.
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| View from Mt McGloughlin, Oregon |
Have you ever climbed to the top of a high mountain and taken in the sights from those heights? The view can be awe-inspiring and even transformative. I’ve climbed a couple of relatively tall mountains in my time, though that was a very long time ago. Both of these mountains stand above 8500 feet in altitude. More recently, Cheryl and I got to experience the Alps, but fortunately, we didn’t have to climb the mountain. Instead, we took a cable car to the top of the Stanserhorn, which is only a bit above six thousand feet. It might not be the tallest peak in the Alps but the view was amazing.
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| View from the Stanserhorn, Switzerland |
Standing on the summit of a mountain is exhilarating. It’s no wonder that spiritual writers speak of mountaintop encounters with God as “thin places.” It’s almost as if you can reach into heaven from the heights. When you stand on a mountain top, you can understand why the ancients believed that the gods lived in the sky.
In their minds, if you want to meet with God, you either climb a mountain or, as in the case of the Tower of Babel, you build one (Gen. 11:1-9). It’s good to remember that both Elijah and Moses met God on mountain tops. Moses received the stone tablets while spending time with God on Mount Sinai. When he came down from the mountain, his face radiated so much light that the people were afraid of him (Exodus 34:29-35). Scripture tells us that Elijah hid in the cleft of the rock, and watched as God passed by in sheer silence before giving Elijah his next assignment (1 Kings 19:11-18).
This morning we’ve been invited to watch with the eyes of our imagination as the presence of God shines through Jesus so we can get a sense of who he truly is. St. Gregory Palamas, a fifteenth-century Orthodox theologian, spoke at length about the effect of Jesus’ transfiguration on the disciples.
The light of the Lord’s transfiguration does not come into being or cease to be, nor is it circumscribed or perceptible to the senses, even though for a short time on the narrow mountain top it was seen by human eyes. Rather, at that moment the initiated disciples of the Lord “passed,” as we have been taught, “from flesh to spirit” by the transformation of their senses, which the Spirit wrought in them, and so they saw that ineffable light, when and as much as the Holy Spirit’s power granted them to do so. [The Saving Work of Christ: Sermons by Saint Gregory Palamas (p. 43). Kindle Edition].
Gregory Palamas reminds us that even as Jesus was transfigured, the disciples were transformed by the experience. The same is true for us as we encounter the risen Christ in prayer. Gregory tells us that Jesus shows us “that this brilliance comes about and shines forth when we draw near to God through the virtues, and our minds are united with Him. It is given to all who unceasingly reach up towards God by means of perfect good works and fervent prayer, and is visible to them.” [The Saving Work of Christ (Kindle p. 44)].
With this word about encountering God through prayer and good works, as we prepare to enter the season of Lent, we hear this call from God to listen to Jesus, because he is God’s son.
As we ponder the message of the transfiguration of Jesus, knowing what is going on in the world, from the pandemic to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it may be difficult to leave the mountain. After all, Peter didn’t want this mountaintop experience to end too quickly. Why go back to the real world with all of its challenges? While we might want to stay on the mountain for a little longer, we can’t stay there forever. The good news is that our mountaintop experiences can empower us for the journey ahead. That’s why Jesus to the mountain to pray.
Moses and Elijah understood this truth. Both of them faced challenges when they returned from the mountain. Moses received the tablets of stone but then faced a rebellious people who created a golden calf in his absence. Elijah also faced a hostile crowd when he returned from his encounter with God. As for Jesus, the road ahead led to the cross.
The mountain offers us a moment of respite where we can gain refreshment and guidance. But, eventually, we have to return to the challenges of living in this world. The good news is that God is not only present on the mountaintop, but God is present and at work in the valley below. Yes, God is at work seeking to bring wholeness and liberation to a broken and hurting world. But, here’s the thing, God can’t do it alone. God requires our participation in this work. Fortunately, God equips us for these tasks, which is why it’s important to spend time on the mountain getting refreshed for the work ahead. The good news is that God is present in our worship experiences, as well as in the mundaneness of daily life.
Diana Butler Bass wrote about being grounded. She reminds us that heaven isn’t just up there. It’s down here as well: "The heavens live in us, with us, as the reality under all things, as part of creation. In Christian theology, Jesus brings together sky and earth, the God who dwells with us." [Grounded, p. 123].
Let us not forget the presence of the cross in this story, because that is where Jesus is heading. So, when we climb down the mountain and pick up the Lenten journey, we enter a wilderness where we will be tested. There will be times of suffering and difficulty. But the promise here is that God is with us, meeting us even in these cross-marked moments. In these moments, heaven and earth meet! So, let us listen for the voice of Jesus!
Preached by:
Dr. Robert D. Cornwall
Pulpit Supply
First Presbyterian Church
Troy, Michigan
February 27, 2022
Transfiguration Sunday
Immage Attribution: Raphael, 1483-1520 ; Romano, Giulio, 1499-1546. Transfiguration, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54165 [retrieved February 26, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transfiguration_Raphael.jpg.
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