The Transfiguration is full of elements that drive the modern mind crazy. Historic figures, light obscuring Jesus’s face, and a Godly voice all provoke, confuse, and in many, invite skepticism. It makes a simple man long for a good ol’ Jesus teaching. That makes sense.
It also is full of the kind of stuff many of us long for. Devotion, courage, and an articulation of what we’re supposed to do (“listen to him”)!
And because we cover this story in the lectionary at least once a year, sometimes twice, it manages to be familiar enough that we feel like we’re running out of things to say and important enough that we need to say it all again each time.
Transfigure
The element I am drawn to more than any other is the transfiguring itself.
Transfigure: to change the appearance of.
Transfigure isn’t a word we use ever. And it seems weak next to the word we do use: transform. The conclusion many of us may jump to is that Jesus being transfigured rather than transformed is far less exciting than it could be.
It also has the odd feeling, when placed with the shining light, as being temporary. And we all know transformations are permanent.
But the focus on appearance has a different kind of resonance. Especially when it suggests that Jesus himself isn’t changed. How the three saw him did.
And there’s a lot we can make of that.
Here are some ways I approach this text:
- Reflection
- Reflection on alone
- No in-between Epiphany 6A and LastA
- video