Sunday 23 February 2020

 Matthew 17: 1-9

TRANSFIGURATION FOR TRANSFORMATION 

Today's reading, from Exodus relates the account of Moses going up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone bearing the 10 commandments.  In that event, a cloud covered the mountain and the glory of the Lord covered the mountain.  To the Israelites who saw it, it appeared as a consuming fire.

The gospel records Jesus taking Peter James and John up a high mountain where they also witnessed the glory of the Lord.  Jesus was transfigured in their presence.  His face shone like the sun his clothes became as white as light.  As if that were not enough, Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. 

These two occasions must have been very moving and life transforming for Moses in the Exodus account as well as for Peter James and John in the gospel.

It is interesting that these readings are assigned for today the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.  Both accounts tell us that just as these men of God and the disciples of Jesus had these wonderful mountaintop experiences in which the glory of God was revealed in the cloud and through the transfiguration of Jesus, and could not remain there indefinitely because there was need for them to return to their people so too must we go to those to whom God sends us testify to God’s glory.    Moses remained on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights, the same period that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.  In the case of the disciples, Peter expressed how good it was for them to be at that place and wanted to erect three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah but they had to leave the mountaintop.

Jesus knew as well that his mission was not to end there, but it was one that would ultimately give his life lead to the cross.  

So, we can say that for Jesus, it was a case of from glory to cross.  So we must be reminded today that when we have such uplifting experiences, our lives are being transformed in preparation for the work God has for us to do.

There are times in life when God positions us in places or situations for a special reasons.  It may not be on a literal mountaintop, but it could be a quiet moment in prayer or meditation. He may position us in a place where we can focus on minds and become deeply aware of His presence.  He may bring us in touch with persons whose lives we can impact or who touch our own lives in their own peculiar way.  

I refer to such moments as our spiritual Mountaintops.  Times when we shut out the noises of the world and become open to the Spirit of God connecting with our spirit.  Those times when we can see the glory of God revealed to us because our spiritual eyes are opened, those experiences are not emotional in nature but realities that we do not have words to adequately describe.  We Just know that God’s presence is with us.

Sometimes it is in a situation that may be very unpleasant, when the feeling is that all is lost.  We would have read stories or heard accounts of persons who were involved in accidents.  in their experiences they would report having seen a person, a figure, (for want of a better description) who miraculously saved them from death.  That would be there mountaintop, life transforming experience. 

God can use any experience we have to reveal his glory and bring us to the realize that we are not alone. He makes his very presence felt in our lives sometimes when we least expect it.

These events can be moments of transfiguration, when we have a different view of God in Jesus Christ, and the countenance shines upon us.  These moments come to each of us in various ways but are we open to recognize these moments of grace.

What experiences have you had in your lives that we can look back to and now see that God was in fact revealing something that was meant to transform?  That is what we need to ponder.

When we think of Saul.  A Jew, a Pharisee who believed that the teachings of Jesus were against teaching of the Mosaic Law and zealously persecuted anyone who followed Jesus’ teachings.   One notable example is his support of the stoning of Stephen.  The Acts of the Apostles records that he had his experience as he was travelling to Damascus to continue his campaign of persecution but on the way his life was transformed when he was blinded by a bright light.   He experienced the glory of God and became Paul, one of the greatest apostles of Jesus.  He saw Jesus in a different light.

So too, God through his Holy Spirit can lead us to take us to our transformational mountaintop, our spiritual mountaintop.

The birth of a child it ought to be a mountaintop experience for all, especially parents because the glory of the Lord is revealed child bringing new life into the world, a miracle in itself; yet the privilege is often taken lightly, and children too often neglected.

Caring for the sick and elderly can be a mountaintop experience, as we see the joy and the appreciation in their faces, revealing the glory of the Lord.  Yet too often they are neglected.

Exchanging the peace should be a mountaintop experience because it is effectively sharing what we receive from God in Jesus Christ with each other and we ought to see the glory of God radiating from the faces of fellow Christians.

Becoming a witness for Jesus can be a mountain Top experience as we can see lives change, and persons brought to faith.  Yet too often God’s call on our lives is too often ignored.

We can go on naming the many opportunities that we have daily.  In them Jesus is leading us, as he led to Peter, James and John to us to our mountaintop, our spiritual mountaintop when we experience the countenance of his face and the transformation of lives.

As we have our experiences the words of 2 Peter 1:16 should resonate with us: “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

So, my friends, let us listen to Jesus, the beloved Son of God with whom he is well pleased. He calls, He equips us and then he sends us out to share the good News with the world – Jesus is Lord.

The secondly, let us look up to God in Jesus Christ.  Raise your heads and through our spiritual eyes, behold the Glory of the transfigured Lord Jesus whom we serve.

His transfiguration is for our transformation.