The Transfiguration of Christ
AM Psalm [83] or 34 • PM Psalm 85, 86
2 Samuel 11:1-27 • Acts 19:11-20 • Mark 9:2-13
Eve of the Transfiguration
PM Psalm 66 • 1 Kings 19: 1-12 • 2 Corinthians 3:1-9,18
Today’s Gospel reading, Mark 9:2-13 describes the transfiguration of Christ. We are told in verses 2 and 3, “Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them and his clothes became dazzling white.” Then it continues in verse 4, “and there appeared to them Elijah with Moses.” This marks the tangible transformation of Jesus in the body form to include the spiritual form as well.
I cannot imagine what this would have been like for Peter, James and John. These three disciples believed that Jesus was something more than special. In the previous chapter, Mark 8:27-28, Jesus had asked, “But who do you say that I am?” and Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” I have no doubt that Peter believed in his heart that Jesus was the Messiah, but to see with your very own eyes a transformation of something earthly and tangible become other worldly, left Peter and the disciples at a loss. They felt compelled to mark the occasion and offered to construct three dwellings, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. I wonder in today’s society and time if the disciples would have demanded a selfie to commemorate the occasion. This transformation is so monumental it begs for some sort of physical recognition and commemoration.
Then a voice comes from the cloud stating (verse 7) “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him.” In my mind this is almost a scoffing “as if anything you could build or picture you could take would be worthy” kind of tone. It leads me to wonder if part of the point is some moments are so sacred that they just need to be experienced fully and we should not get preoccupied with building a memorial or capturing it with a camera, even though this is well intentioned. It never ceases to disappointment me to see fans at a major sporting event or in person at a concert, holding their phones up to record the moment instead of just enjoying and being fully a part of the present and the experience. The reading today encourages me to be fully present in this time and space, instead of focusing on a camera/phone view or in the disciples’ case the construction of stones.
Written by Tara Elzer
Through the lessons and practices of Second Breath the Inward and Outward Journey courses offered through St. Paul’s, being fully present is becoming more of a reality instead of a wish.