Transfiguration as Spiritual Process

Last Epiphany A      February 26, 2017
Ex.24:12,15-18,      Ps.99        
2 Peter 1:16-21  Matt. 17:1-9

Lectionary Link

Today we are invited to the event of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ and so we seek to find meanings for this event in our lives.

We are more familiar from elementary school science with the word metamorphosis, the word we learned when we studied the life cycle of the larva, caterpillar, cocoon and butterfly.  Metamorphosis is the name of the change which occurs in the stages of growth.  Metamorphosis highlights the completely different appearance of the same organism from one stage until the next.  We as human being with longer life cycles experience the metamorphosis in more gradual differences in appearances at different ages of our lives.  In the spirituality of our faith community we teach a program of spiritual transformation.  Just as we undergo physical metamorphosis and we can enhance physical growth with good health practices, we can also enhance our spiritual metamorphosis with good spiritual habits and discipline.  In the Gospels, the English word transfiguration is used to translate the Greek word from which we get the English word "metamorphosis."  I think metamorphosis as spiritual process is perhaps more indicative of the goals of spiritual manuals such as the Gospels are while the word transfiguration seems just to refer to the appearance of changes in Jesus on the Mount with his disciples.

The Gospels were written as manuals of spiritual transformation for the communities who embraced the teachings of Jesus Christ as they became transmitted through the followers who came under his influence.

The story of the Transfiguration is found the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.  It is not found in the Gospel of John, but one of the chief metaphors in the Gospel of John is proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Light of the World.  The theme of the season of the Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as the Light of the world, especially the Gentile world and so we always finish the Season of the Epiphany with visit to the Mount of the Transfiguration.

How can we use this Gospel event to inspire us in the spiritual metamorphosis of our lives today?

First, we can rely upon the best insights that we have received in our lives to help refer us to what is going to be the next phase of our spiritual growth.  Who were two of the best in the traditions of Judaism?   Moses and Elijah.   Moses was the one who went up on Mount Sinai into the cloudy and fiery presence of God and there he received the Law to express the covenantal relationship between God and the people of the earth.  When Moses came down from the mountain, his face shone so brightly that he had to veil his face for people to be able to look toward him.   Elijah was the famous prophet who tried to restore the rebellious people of Israel in their covenant with God.  Both Moses and Elijah were apocalyptic figures during the time of Jesus; they were regarded as being involved the end of life and afterlife messages. 

Does your past hinder you from doing new and better things in the future?   From a good insight we may settle into a view:  "Well, we've always done it this way."  Sometimes we can take our best insights and be so impressed with them that we put them in a museum.  And what does a museum house?  Dead artifacts of the past.  The church historian Jaroslav Pelikan made an interesting contrast between tradition and traditionalism.  He wrote: " Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living."  In the event of the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah reappear, not has wax figures in Madame Taussaud's, they reappear as great figures in the past affirming the greater witness in the present.  And what was Peter's reaction?  He thought, "This is too good; we need to build shrine tents here to memorialize this event.  This is cool.  Let's just camp out and live on the mountain top"  The heavenly voice quietly told Peter to keep quiet.  How do you and I regard our very best insights of the past?  Well, they are milestones but they are not to become idols which limit us from surpassing ourselves in future excellence.  Let us appropriate our traditions, even our Episcopal Tradition as a living tradition propelling us to a better future.

The Transfiguration event was full of clouds.  Why does language have the word "mystery?"  Because not all meaningful and true events in our lives can be fully explained.  Not everything that happens in our life can be repeated in a controlled way like a scientific experiment.  Sometimes the events that change our lives are "once in a lifetime events" and they gather to them a sense of God's providence because of how they affect our lives.  Sometimes, the insights of dream-like material swamp our conscious lives and provide for us a strange sense of God's caring presence, even though, we cannot explain it or make such events recur to us at our command.   We need to accept the clouds of mystery sometimes in humility knowing that we don't and can't understand everything.   We need to honor mystery which can reinforce in delicious ways new insights.

Great biblical events happened on Mountains.  Mount Sinai and Mount Tabor.  Mountains are the place where the earth kisses the heavens.  Mountain top experience symbolize mystery of how the superlative values are manifested or made known in our lives.  The best values can't be always anticipated or planned but when they happen, they are marked as the highest which become exemplars for our imitation.  I would invite each person here to trace the highest values of your life.  Think about the 10 top life changing events in your life and contemplate the positive providence of these events for your betterment.  The Gospel writers understood the contrast between giving of the law and the revelation of Jesus Christ.  The law was written upon stone and page but Jesus Christ was the eternal Word of God written fully in a human person and who would become the Risen Christ born into the lives of all who wanted him.

The Transfiguration was an event of light.  Jesus is called the Light of the world.  His face shone symbolizing how much of God's glory he was able to surface in his appearance.  Our spiritual lives are transformed through events of light.  Light symbolizes what we can see more clearly because of the experience of divine enhancements.  Light is becoming aware of our interior life as being the residence of God's Holy Spirit.  As we surface the grace of our inner charisma, we are able to shine with a witness to what is good, kind and loving in our world.  As we learn how to "surface" the Holy Spirit through manifest appearances in our lives of kindness, love and justice, we become the transfigured little lights of God's Spirit.

The most telling event of the event of the Transfiguration was the account of the voice of God declaring about Jesus:  "This is my Son, the beloved; with him I am well-pleased.  Listen to him."  The early church proclaim the uniqueness of how Jesus as Son of God was understood.  This was different from the messianic Psalm: "The Lord said to me: you are my Son.  This day I have begotten you."  It was different from the Roman Emperors who were declared to be gods and sons of gods by the Roman Senate.  This same heavenly voice declaring Jesus as God's Son was also associated with the baptism of Jesus.  Jesus was God's Son.  That is central to Christian confession.  Adam too was God's son; God's wayward son.  Jesus was the perfect expression of being God's Son.  And while we confess the uniqueness of Jesus as God's son,  Jesus himself, did not wish to take to himself being an only child.  This means that you and I are blessed when we can hear God announcing in us that we are sons and daughters of God too.  If we can hear this we will live our lives differently.  We will live as those who wish to please our heavenly parent.  We will live our lives with a sense of esteem that we can receive from no one else.

On Wednesday, we begin our Lenten journey with some intentional disciplines to implement some permanent amendment of life.  As we contemplate the challenges of making changes in our lives, let us remember all of the elements of the event of the Transfiguration.

Let our traditions of excellence encourage us to continue to improve.  Let us not be afraid of the clouds of mystery which may accompany the new occasions for improvement.  Let us reflect upon the past mountain top experiences of our lives.  Let us seek to find the Light of the Spirit of God within us and become filaments for being lights of the world.  And let our ears be attentive to the loving parental voice of God saying to us, "You are my beloved daughter, you are my beloved son.  with you I am well pleased."  If we can hear this whisper of affirmation, our lives will be transfigured forever.  Amen.

Sunday School, February 26, 2017 Last Sunday after the Epiphany A

Sunday School, February 26, 2017    Last Sunday after the Epiphany A

Theme

Comparing the Giving of the Law of Moses to Jesus

How did Israel receive the Law?  Moses went up on Mount Sinai

What was Mount Sinai life when he went there to receive the law?  It was cloudy and had the fiery light of God’s presence.

What happened to Moses face after he received the law on the mountain?  His face was shiny bright.  In fact, it was so shiny that he had to put a veil on his face to keep from blinding the people of Israel.

Mount of the Transfiguration

Who was on the Mount of Transfiguration?  Peter, James, John, Jesus and Moses and Elijah appeared too.  And the voice of God was heard.

What was the Mountain top experience like?  It was covered with clouds.  It had a bright light which was the shiny face of Jesus.

What happened there? Jesus was talking with Elijah and Moses.  Peter was nervous and he wanted to build three tents,booth as worship shrines for Jesus, Elijah and Moses.

What was the most important event on the Mountain?  The voice of God announced that Jesus was God’s Son and that God was pleased with Jesus and the Voice told everyone to listen to Jesus.

What is the meaning of the events of the Mount of Transfiguration?

Peter, James and John who were Jews were to understand that Jesus was a friend of two of the greatest Jewish heroes, Moses and Elijah.  Moses and Elijah had returned to endorse Jesus as their friend and leader.  And the voice of God announced the most important identity of Jesus to be that He was God’s Son.

How can I understand the meaning of transfiguration?

Transfiguration is the word metamorphosis and this refers to the natural process of the cycles of growth in life.  Our lives are in the process of metamorphosis like the larva, caterpillar, and cocoon waiting to become butterflies.  There is a butterfly “spirit” within us that is waiting to break out of us in our resurrection from the dead.  Until then we are being transformed or changed into becoming more like Jesus, who has also called us to be beloved sons and daughters of God.  We have God’s Spirit within us a wonderful Light that helps to change or transform our lives to be more like Jesus.

The story of Jesus tells us that Jesus was God’s special Son and that the Light of the Holy Spirit was in Him.  It also means that we are invited to let the light of the Holy Spirit rise in us to change ourselves to be like our Brother Jesus, who reminds us that we are beloved sons and daughters of God.  And we can know that God loves us and is pleased with us too.

Sermon

Today is the last Sunday of the season of the Epiphany.  Can you tell me what the color is for Epiphany?  Green.  How did you guess?  And what season comes next?  The season of Lent.  And what day does it begin on?  Ash Wednesday.  And why do we call it Ash Wednesday?  We do some face painting on Ash Wednesday.  We draw a black cross on our foreheads to remind ourselves about the parts of our selves that last forever and the parts of our selves that wear out.  Do your clothes wear out?  Do your shoes wear out?  Do cars get old?  Do our bodies wear out?  Our bodies do wear and someday they will just stop working.  And if we wait long enough, they will turn back into dust.  And so on Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent by reminding ourselves that part of our life is going to wear out.

  But you know we have another part of our self that is never going to wear out.  And that part of our self is what we call “Spirit.”  Our spirit is the part of us that will live forever.

  Our spirit is all of that stuff inside of our bodies that we cannot see.  Our spirit is like the light in the light bulb.  On the outside a light bulb is just a piece of glass.  But when you turn the light bulb on it becomes warm and bright.

  You and I have to learn how live our lives like a light bulb that is always turned.  We have to learn to make our spirits light up our bodies?  How do we do this?  We can do this in many ways.  With curiosity.  With learning new things.  With laughter.  With wonder and surprise and excitement.  With kindness and love and care.   In many ways we can make the life of our bodies shine with the life of our spirit.

  Today we read a story about Jesus when his face shone like a very bright light.  You see, Jesus had such a strong and wonderful Spirit, he was able to make his face shine when his friends saw him in a very special way.  Jesus was a very special friend.  His friends called him the Light of the world, because he helped them to learn and live their lives better.  We need to follow Jesus and learn how to be lights in this world for each other.  We need to learn how to make our spirits so strong and so full of knowledge and love and kindness that we become lights in our world for the people in our world.

  Can you learn how to shine like a light today?  Okay let’s turn on our lights…now.  Amen.

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 26, 2017: The Last Sunday after The Epiphany

Gathering Songs: I’ll Be a Sunbeam; This Little Light, Climb Climb Up Sunshine Mountain, Shine, Jesus, Shine,

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

People: And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, Now and forever. Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: I’ll Be a Sunbeam (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 112)

1-Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for him each day; in every way try to please him, at home, at school, at place.  Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

4-I’ll be a sunbeam  for Jesus, I can if I but try; serving him moment by moment, then live with him on high.  Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, who before the passion of your only­ begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A Reading from the Book of Exodus

Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 99

The LORD is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples.

Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.

"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

 Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.  As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Offertory: Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Song: This Little Light of Mine (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 234)

1-This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

2-Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going to let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

3-Don’t let anyone, blow it out.  I’m going to let it shine.  Don’t let anyone blow it out.  I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

4-Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.  Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

 Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion  Song:   Climb Up Sunshine Mountain, (The Christian’s Children Song Book # 1)

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, heavenly breezes blow,

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, faces all aglow. 

            Turn, turn from sin and doubting, look to God on high;

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, you and I.

Post Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: Shine, Jesus Shine  (Renew! # 247)

Lord the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness shining. Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us. Set us free by the truth you now bring us. Shine on me.  Shine on me.

Refrain: Shine Jesus Shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory.  Blaze, Spirit, blaze set our hearts on fire.  Flow, rivers, flow, fill the nations with thy grace and mercy.  Send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. Alleluia!  Alleluia!

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

The removal of “alleluia” until Easter

Announcements, Snack and Fellowship

Transfiguration:Bring Light to our Surfaces in Word and Deeds

Last Epiphany A      March 2, 2014

Ex.24:12,15-18,      Ps.99        

2 Peter 1:16-21  Matt. 17:1-9

Lectionary Link

  Did you ever wonder how values in life are formed?  What is it that makes gold a valuable substance?  Is it due to the artificiality that arose in cultures to form the social and psychological value of gold?  If an infant has the choice between gold and bottle of milk; which is more valuable to the infant?  But you say, the infant is not educated to know or appreciate the value of gold.  So value is very contextual and the context also includes the intelligence levels of the participants.

  When we read the words of Holy Scripture we are reading traditions of how people and events came to have value.  Reading the Bible in a serious way involves understanding some of the symbolic order found therein.

  If a man goes up on a mountain called Sinai and receives laws written by the hand of God and if he returns from the mountain and his face is shiny bright from being in the presence of the divine, then you have a story of how and why Moses and Law were important to the people who received and practiced these laws.

  The law within the literary tradition which derived from the people of Israel was so important to them that the people have to believe these profound laws had come from some source of inspiration beyond this earth.  And so there is the tradition of Moses on Sinai receiving the law from God and getting very close to divinity. Sometimes values arise in discovery of something new and useful and those who experience such values develop a program to try to explain to themselves and to others why things are valuable.

  The practice of the Law was so marvelous for the Hebrew people that they needed a story for its genius and the Mount Sinai story is the story about where heaven meets earth and something of heaven is given to a mediating agent Moses who then is popular, heroic and remembered because he is a special contact person with the divine to help deliver the genius of the law.

  The people who had their lives affected by Jesus of Nazareth did not plan for that to happen.  It just did; and the effect of his live upon them did not stop.  He and his life and his message were so significant that the life of Jesus had a domino effect.  The successful impact of Jesus upon the lives of his followers was being passed on and promulgated.  The reason for this success had to be explained.

  And so the writers used the symbolic ordering system that was present to them from the Hebrew Scripture.  And how could the early followers of Jesus account for the success of Jesus?  Why did Jesus have the impact that he did?  Why did he become the most supremely valued person in the lives of so many people?

  Well, Jesus went up on the Mount one day and his face shone.  And the members of the church was there represented by the presence of Peter, James and John.  And the representatives of two strains in the Hebrew/Judaic traditions were also present in this mountain top vision.  Moses represented the Hebrew tradition of the Torah, the only tradition accepted by the Sadducees.  Elijah represented the tradition found in the other Hebrew writings and the Pharisees accepted the Prophetic writings and the other writings in the Hebrew Scriptures.

  This great visionary meeting on the Mount of Transfiguration is story about why Jesus had become valued by so many people.  He was a great person; he was a genius; he was in the company of Moses and Elijah and even in the company of Moses and Elijah, the heavenly voice of God the Father said about Jesus, “This is my Son, the beloved; listen to him.”

  This story of the Transfiguration event is a legitimization story for explaining why Jesus had become so important to the lives of so many.  If Peter, James and John were to actually meet Elijah the Prophet and Moses the Law giver, would they not be expected to listen to them?  But here they are with Jesus, Moses and Elijah and the voice of God the Father is telling them to listen to Jesus.

  The transfiguration event is a story to indicate that Jesus is definitely within the traditions of Moses and Elijah but Jesus is given a higher affirmation than Moses or Elijah by the heavenly voice of God the Father.

  One can understand this story of the Transfiguration vision to be like so much of the Gospels as the early Christians establishing Jesus as the person of supreme value in their lives.  Was Jesus great because of the story of the transfiguration or did the story of the transfiguration happen because people were experiencing Jesus as a truly great person?  We can understand how the transfiguration story functions in the Judaic tradition of proclaiming and establishing the surpassing greatness of Jesus.

  On another level the story of the transfiguration is the figurative story of all of us who embrace our lives as a journey with metaphorical events of going up and down mountains, travelling on flat ground and crossing rivers and seas.  Like Peter on the mount of the transfiguration, we would prefer to build dwellings and do impossible of living only in the times of mountain top experiences.  

  The word transfigure refers to transformation and metamorphosis.  The goal of all of salvation history within the Bible is personal metamorphosis, personal transformation.  We are given creative original life force energy of our lives and we are to work this energy to the surfaces of our lives so that we shine with glory.

   The goal of life is to let the eternal Spirit of life rise in us and re-create and reorganize and reconstitute our lives with an art of living to bring us into progressive excellence.

  One of the misuses of the Bible and the Gospel stories is to make them so legendary and fantastic to the point of irrelevance for our lives.  We make ancient times special and legendary and in this special religious literary genre we allow that the laws of science did not prevail back in ancient times like they do now.  People embrace the stories of the Bible today almost as a category of what we would call entertainment.  If we do not understand the connection of the Bible stories for the transformation of our lives, we can limit the Bible to being simply fantastic entertainment, not unlike the fantastic entertainment of science fiction or mytho-poetic discourse. 

  If we miss the Gospels as literature which invites us to the continual transformation of our lives, we have missed the purpose of the Gospel and the Bible.

  Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, John and Jesus did not have life experience for us; we have to embrace and accept our own experience.  We have to be writing in our own lives personal Gospels of transformation.  We have to discover how the values which constitute our lives have occurred to make us who we are.

  Today, I would invite us to open our eyes to see how transfiguring events have occurred in our lives to lure us to excellence.  They are happening everywhere at all times because we live our lives in a completely worded environment so there is significant communication opportunities impinging our existence at all time.

  Today, let us read the transforming and transfiguring events of our lives because the Spirit of God is the life force within us who will arise within us to the surface of our lives to shine in our words and deeds.  May God help us to find ways for the arising of God Spirit to make our lives shine with creative advance towards excellence.  Amen.