Most of our churches will observe Transfiguration Sunday this weekend. During the Season after the Epiphany —AHA!, remember — we’ve been exploring ways in which God has been displayed through Jesus. Implicit in this journey is the underlying question, “What has God been showing ME?” And like unto it, “How will this revelation confront and guide those around me?” What changes?
Moses was on Mt. Sinai for a LOOONG time, twice as many days as you could count on your fingers and toes. Most people back at camp said that he’d NEVER come back…did he get too close to God and was burned? But here he comes, carrying Ten Laws about how we’re to approach God and others in the community. And look! What’s with his FACE? It really glows and shines! Every time Moses would talk with The Lord, “the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining…” (Exodus 24:35)
St. Paul recollects this holy history when he reminds the Corinthian congregations about the changes which occur from being with Christ. He said that Moses veiled his face so that his people wouldn’t see the glory fade. Only Christ removes the veil. “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (II Corinthians 3:18) Well, THAT’S certainly Good News!
`The Gospel (Luke 9:28-36) is the traditional account of Jesus and his closest lieutenants climbing into the clouds, and there conversing with Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the Prophets). (These fellows also had mountain-stories, you may remember) “The appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Once again, God’s Voice identified Jesus as The Son and demanded that he be heard.
Know anyone who’s had an encounter with God and is markedly changed? A prime duty of the Church is to welcome and nurture those who’re being transfigured, those who are obvious in their journey ” from glory unto glory”. We who are Wesleyan may well fix on the doctrine of Perfection, and this is a perfect day for it!
Emmet Kelly, the hobo clown with the battered derby, had the trademark gimmick of sweeping the light from the far corners into a little ball of glory at his feet. May you be steppin’ in the Light….
God Bless Us,Every One H B King
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