The season of Epiphany, the season of light and revelations, ends with the spectacular transfiguration of Jesus becoming a dazzling white or a blinding light. We’re told in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus becomes the brightest white imaginable, a white that cannot be bleached or replicated on earth. He stands with two of Israel’s greatest prophets, Moses and Elijah. And, of course, they are up on a mountain where big things happen. As a matter of fact, both Elijah and Moses speak with God while on a mountain during their own lives.
As 21st century citizens of the earth, we can only read about or meditate on what this was like. Jesus’ disciples, Peter, James and John, are scared out of their wits at this sight. Peter wants to build three markers to memorialize the event. As usual, Peter stumbles and bumbles around saying the wrong things and struggling to understand a given situation.
Jesus does not care about monuments — he knows he must continue his difficult mission, and “set his face towards Jerusalem” where he knows he will be crucified.
Jesus, Moses and Elijah speak, and I often wonder what they are talking about. Then a voice comes down from heaven and says, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!” Then Jesus reverts to his former self and Moses and Elijah are gone. It seems the disciples had but a glimpse of God’s glory. It makes sense that they would not want to leave and would try to prolong this miracle for as long as possible. But reality invades them again. Then it was time to head back down the mountain to continue the ministry.
Just sit with this story and take in the flash of glory
I think one of the most helpful things we can do is to just sit within this story for a while. When we create a still point where there is peace and quiet, we can better appreciate the magnitude of the Transfiguration. It’s a stunning revelation of Jesus’ importance in Israel’s prophetic history. He stands with these giants of the Old Testament and they speak as colleagues, if you will. I think Moses and Elijah encouraged Jesus in his role as leader and prophet. They know full well how difficult it is to be a prophet.
Jesus’ mission has reached a pivotal moment, and things are about to get much more tense and dangerous for him. He will soon become one who is first lauded as a king and then cruelly crucified as a criminal. The Transfiguration points decidedly towards Jesus’ dazzling resurrection, too.
Imagine you are watching all of this unfold from behind a rock formation. You hear and see everything. What if after heading down the mountain, Jesus sees you and says, “I know what your three things are that you want to cast out (from the blog homework last week).” Then Jesus looks at you with compassion and says, “You can do this.”
Take this glimpse of God’s glory with you down the mountain and pray on it. Let this rare peek at Jesus’ radiance stay with you and bask in its glow. Let it fuel you in resisting evil and ignorant destruction wherever you encounter it. Let the Transfiguration flow from you in little and big transformations and transfigurations of love and compassion.
Thin Places and Holy Spaces
The Transfiguration is a big event to be sure. It is situated in what we can call a “thin place,” that liminal space when the vault of heaven opens somewhere between heaven and earth where extraordinary things happen.
Thin places are not limited to big transfigurations. Small transfigurations happen much more often and I believe they build into larger life-altering events. The small thin places are a kind gesture, a word of encouragement, pledging to volunteer, or speaking at a protest regarding social justice. Taken individually or randomly, these small actions may not seem like much, but they have the rare power to ignite a group of people into doing great things.
As we approach Ash Wednesday and the “Observance of a Holy Lent”
One of my favorite rituals is “Ashes-to-Go.” I love standing in front of a church or at a busy intersection for people who want to formally begin Lent but cannot make it to church for whatever reason. People are so happy to receive the imposition of ashes. Once a grandmother asked me how long I’d be there, and she went home and got her three young grandchildren so they could get ashes.
We can’t do that this year because of the pandemic. My bishop has prohibited “Ashes-to-Go” to avoid transmission of COVID-19, and rightly so. Next week I will provide an excerpt of the Ash Wednesday service from the Book of Common Prayer for you to read at home (you can read the whole service at the link above).
A lay person can impose ashes. You can use an artist’s charcoal pencil, or some eyeliner. Ashes are usually made by burning the dried palms from the previous Palm Sunday service, and you can make this ash paste yourself. If you live with someone, you can impose the ashes on each other’s forehead.
What is most important is somehow marking the beginning of your Lenten observance.
My next blog comes out on Ash Wednesday proper, so we’ll be exploring the Temptation of Christ and how that definitely relates to a spirituality of resistance.
The blog on February 24th will introduce a wonderful book for us to consider during Lent. The author Ken Wilson introduces the Sarum Prayer, and it is a wonderful prayer to use in practicing a spirituality of resistance. Until then, consider how you will be transformed by casting off your 3 things, and offer that to Christ in prayer.
Blessings+ on your journey.
