THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION 2023
Today, as you have doubtless figured out, is the Feast of the Transfiguration.
We celebrate both Jesus transfiguration and Moses’ as well.
You can’t be around God without being changed in some wondrous ways.
Before writing this sermon, I looked up ‘transfigure’ in the dictionary. Here’s what Merriam-Webster told me:
“Transfigure=transform, metamorphose, transmute, convert, transmogrify. Transfigure means to change a thing into a different thing. Transform implies a major change in form, nature or function. Metamorphose suggests an abrupt or startling change indeed if by magic or supernatural power.
To give a new and typically exalted or spiritual appearance: transform outwardly and usually for the better.
Transfigure has 33 synonyms.”
That’s more than I needed to know!
After God gave Moses the 10 Commandants, Moses’ face was shining so much that the leaders didn’t want to look at him or be with him. He had to cover his face with a veil most of the time.
Jesus’ transfiguration was more than just his face appearance—though that did change. His clothes turned ‘dazzling white’ and two men were with him—Moses and Elijah, the disciples thought.
Peter wanted to put up a structure to commemorate the moment, but a cloud descended on them and they were ‘terrified.
Then God’s voice spoke to them and called Jesus “my son, my Chosen” and told them to listen to him.
Luke tells us the disciples ‘kept silent and told no one any of the things they had seen.’
That may have been true in those days, but the lesson from 2nd Peter today is Peter writing about the day of Transfiguration. He gets God’s words a little different from Luke but it had been years and, I don’t know about you, but my memory doesn’t serve to get past events right!
So, the question to ponder is this—What Transfiguration does God have in mind for you? How does God want to transform you?
The churches I grew up in—first the Pilgram Holiness and then a Methodist church that was more evangelical than those in New England—they had an answer: God wants to save your soul!
I may have told you this: When I was in the 9th grade, I went to a Methodist revival meeting and the preacher scared me so bad I went up to the altar rail and he laid hands on me and told me I was ‘saved’.
The next Monday in math class, the teacher, who was my father’s sister-in-law, told the class, “Jimmy was saved this weekend.” I was so embarrassed I dropped my pencil and when I bent down to pick it up, I looked up Donna Comber’s dress.
“Oh, no,” I thought, “it didn’t take!”
Episcopalians look at it differently. God wants us to do God’s work in this world—clothe the naked, feed the hungry, help to poor, welcome the friendless and don’t look down on anyone.
You folks at Trinity do a good job of all that.
But ponder for a moment what else God might want from
You folks at Trinity do all that and more, but ponder for a few moments what else your transfiguration might involve.
Ponder being transfigured….
Amen and amen.
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