Last Epiphany

May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

SEASON: Last Epiphany
PROPER: C
PLACE: St. John's Parish, Kingsville
DATE: February 25, 2001


TEXT: Luke 9:28-36 – The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ

ISSUE: The Transfiguration experience is deeply rooted in Judaism. It’s Christian significance culminates in the fact that to be close to Jesus Christ is to experience the new Temple of God, it is to be in the very presence of God. To be in this tradition is to be in the midst of an experience, where like Moses, Elijah, and Jesus there is the victory over death in listening to, having an intimate relationship, and walking with the Son of God. We see in him the Glory of God. We see hope and resurrection. We see in him enlightenment and encouragement for our lives. Though with him we may well experience the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil, as we embrace the resurrection.

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The church’s Epiphany Season comes to an end each year with the reading of the Transfiguration Experience of Jesus Christ. It is indeed a mystical experience. In the context of prayer, Jesus takes his disciples up on a mountain to pray. While they are there, Jesus seen by the disciples in conversation with the long gone Moses and Elijah are in discussion about Jesus’ departure, better translated, Jesus’ Exodus. Jesus is transfigured, his garments and stature become dazzling white. In some state between being asleep and awake, Peter suggests building booths or dwellings for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Peter, James, and John astounded and terrorized by a cloud encompassing them all, and hear the very voice of God saying words that Jesus had heard at his baptism, a story read at the beginning of the Epiphany Season, “This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him.”
Americans, and American culture is not comfortable with such mystical experiences or what might be called alternative conscious awareness experiences. We are more scientifically inclined and like to be in control of our experiences. Mystical experiences are beyond control. Biblical scholar, John Pilch, reminds us that 90% of the cultures in the world are in fact comfortable with alternate states of consciousness. Americans are among the 10% who are uncomfortable. It might be good for us to be reminded that certain paintings, works of art, dreams, a sudden insight may well be meaningful to us beyond our full understanding. There is a spiritual dimension to human life, or at least other dimensions to human existence for which we are not always aware. We might want to think about that possibility, especially as we begin the Lenten Season.
Luke sets this passage in the context of prayer. Jesus and a select inner group of disciples go up the mountain to pray. On the mountain Jesus appears to be transfigured becoming dazzling white, and in conversation with Moses and Elijah. For the people first hearing this story, these images had significant meaning. Both Moses and Elijah had been men who had mystical experiences on mountains, being close and in conversation with God. From the Exodus lesson this morning, we are also reminded that Moses himself, having been the proximity of God, has a face that is radiant. Moses’ face shown because he had talked with God. The Transfiguration experience is one of enlightenment for the disciples. Jesus shines forth in a most honorable position. This enlightenment was important to the development of the early Christian tradition, and the respected stature of Jesus.
Another important element of the story is manifest in the mystical cloud that surrounds Jesus and his disciples. When Moses led the people of Israel in the wilderness, they were led by a pillar of fire by night, and a cloud during the day. The Israelites had erected a tent in which the Law of God was kept, the Ark of the Covenant, and was believed that this was the place and presence of God. The cloud and fire symbolized the divine presence of God with his people. There was a Jewish Feast of Tabernacles that celebrated the days of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness. Jewish people would build booths on their property to celebrate how God had cared for them. Peter suggests that he should build dwellings, booths, for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus commemorating this mystical event in on the wilderness mountain. The story implies that just as Moses and his disciples were caught up in the cloud of the presence of God, the disciples of Jesus are given an equal honor. The disciples are likewise honored.
When Moses came to the end of his ministry of leading the Israelites toward the Promised Land, he had told the people that God would provide a new prophet and leader for them to follow. They were to obey, or listen to the new leader who would be like Moses in terms of his leadership. (Deut. 18:15f) Out of the cloud in the Transfiguration experience the voice of God which says, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen (obey) him!” Clearly, Jesus is perceived as the new hope for God’s people, who will lead them into The Kingdom, or Realm, the Domain, or Commonwealth of God. The mountain top experiences in the Scriptures are usually moments of transition. Moses is called by God from the Burning Bush on a mountain, and gets the Commandments on the mountain. Elijah convinces Ahab of the power of God on Mt. Carmel. Jesus trains his disciples on the mountain. At the transfiguration mountain top experience, Jesus begins the part of his ministry which turns him toward Jerusalem, his trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
While in our study of the Transfiguration with Jesus on the Mountain top with Elijah and Moses, it has often been thought that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. I’m not convinced that Jesus fulfills something that already has great importance. But Jesus’ ministry simply adds, breaks open, heightens, lifts up the importance of human dignity that is to be immersed in love and forgiveness. He accentuates the law of God with the law of mercy, compassion, love, and forgiveness. He accentuates the prophetic importance of embracing the justice of God. The great prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures were largely concerned with justice of the poor and oppressed of the nation. Jesus’ ministry is so prophetic in his concerns for the poor and the oppressed and extends that beyond the nation of Israel to the whole world.
While in the Transfiguration experience, Jesus is clearly associated with the great men and leaders of Israel’s history, there is still another dimension to the story that is often missed. Both Moses and Elijah came an unusual end. Moses went up on Mt. Nebo where God showed him all the Promised Land. Deut. 33) Moses supposedly died, but his grave was never identified. There is an assumption that he was taken up immediately to be with God. Elijah’s dramatic end is told in the story of the Fiery Chariot that sweeps Elijah away. (2Kings 2:11) These outstanding men were glorified by God, and lifted up to God’s presence. Now Jesus in the presence of God, a truly great prophet, honored and glorified with the name, Son of God, chosen will lead his people though the valley of the shadow of death, and beyond to a joyful resurrection with God the Father.
Recent scholarship brings still another dimension to this story. There is a theory that the Christian Scriptures related to Jesus were written to correspond with the Jewish Lectionary. Just as we have appointed readings for certain seasons and feasts, the Jews also had a lectionary they used in their synagogues. It is thought that Transfiguration Story of Jesus was associated with the Jewish Holiday we know as Hanukkah. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Jewish Temple after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanies in 165 B.C. E. It became known also as the Feast of Lights. The lights in the temple were lit once again, and the Temple was seen as the place where Heaven and earth meet. Be mindful also that the Temple was a great work of art and was know to radiate great light when its gold doors reflected the sunlight. By the time Luke was writing, the Temple had been destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Its radiance and glory was completely diminished. It is thought that the story of the Transfiguration was to show that God’s presence where Heaven and earth meet was with Jesus Christ. The early church declares that Jesus Christ is the new Temple of God, and to embrace Jesus as your Lord is to be in union with God. The light now comes from the dazzling Christ. He is the manifestation, the epiphany of God’s presence in the midst of his people. After the mystical experience Jesus and his disciples begin the journey to Jerusalem and his eventual crucifixion, foreshadowed resurrection, and the profound expression of sacrificial love.
The church now is about to begin its time of prolonged prayer. Christians participating in the Lenten experience search for a closer more intimate relationship with God. The Lenten Season is just about to begin. In the light of the send off that the Transfiguration gives us, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is our Light in the darkness, that he is our approach to the presence of God. Maybe it is our time to seek a meaningful mystical experience. What is God calling each of us in our lives to be and become as his servants. What is our mission and calling. In what ways shall we follow him and be in his obedient disciples. In all of our lives at various times we experience bad times, down times, experiences of loss, uncertainty, and anxiety. We experience this moments of being in the valley of the shadow of death. Yet, the light of Christ shines in the loneliness of our own spiritual wilderness. With difficult and uncertainties the hope of resurrection, of being lifted up is there before us. Our hope and love stands before us. Through Christ, the new Temple that has no boundaries, no fixed position; we are never far from the Presence. It is a presence that embraces the faithful, that raises them up, that gives their lives validity, meaning, value, and purpose. The mystical, the spiritual, the presence of God is as much an important part of our lives as any other aspect, if we are to be truly human.