Transfiguration - Believe Belong Become
GOSPEL: Luke 9:28-43a
The holy gospel according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
The conversation about Jesus’ suffering and death is enclosed in a dazzling foreshadowing of the resurrection. God affirms Jesus’ identity, the disciples are stunned speechless, and Jesus resumes his mission with a demonstration of his power over evil.
28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39 Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was being brought forward, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43a And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON (ELW p. 180)
The assembly is seated.
Transfiguration Sunday is a helpful marker
in the church year:
it is a transition from Epiphany to Lent.
The Gospels begin with what we might call “Epiphany”:
the revealing of Jesus.
The culmination of the revealing
happens in today’s story.
The gospel then continues with “Lent”:
with Jesus’ movement towards Jerusalem
and towards a Roman cross.
It is a movement - belief in the Christ,
belonging as followers of Jesus,
belonging in fellowship and worship,
becoming the Saviour,
becoming disciples.
A couple thoughts on Transfiguration:
It occurs on a mountain,
which matters because the mountain was
the place where God is revealed
and experienced.
The appearance of Moses and Elijah is significant.
Traditionally this is understood
to represent the law and prophets,
which help show the reader that
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament;
fulfillment of belief.
In first century Jewish tradition,
Moses and Elijah are the ones
who were to appear at the end of the ages:
they were expected to return before the Messiah.
Remember, Elijah didn’t die,
he was taken up into heaven.
Moses died,
but they don’t know where he was buried,
so some thought that maybe he didn’t die.
So these two would return.
The transfiguration is that moment in history.
Moses and Elijah testify,
along with God’s voice from the heavens,
that truly Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Believe.
I am fascinated by transformations.
Like the caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a butterfly,
or even robots that transform into cars.
For things that transform,
there is more than meets the eye.
I had a transformation that began about 20 years ago,
mostly physical, but also spiritual,
I lost 70 pounds over two years.
Better put,
I worked my gut off.
Change is possible:
dedication,
routine,
discipline
and a dash of motivation
can do wonders for a person.
Looking at the before and after photos,
there was a definite physical transformation,
but, sometimes, even 20 years later,
I still feel like that old me:
Insecure,
lacking self-confidence,
eating out of emotion,
wanting and taking more than I need.
I’ve found that I’m not alone here.
Other people who have transformed their lives
continue to live with the old self still inside them.
Some have to stick to their program
to get away from the old self:
always make your bed first thing in the morning
to set the tone.
Always count your calories.
Structure like this helps change behaviours
away from those which kept life
messy and unaccounted for.
When it comes to personal change like this,
you have to want it
and you have to be willing to sacrifice.
If you’re going to lose weight
or to gain muscle,
you’re going to suffer.
If you’re going to transform,
you’re going to suffer.
The mistake we make, I believe,
is assuming that personal change like this
is the only kind of transformation.
That transformations can only occur through hard work.
Some lives are transformed by forces from outside.
People who have experienced a significant death
or illness know this.
Lives are forever transformed by
one diagnosis
or one person who is no longer living;
one accident,
one tsunami,
one politician;
our lives can be transformed without our consent.
Sometimes, however,
the transformation merely unveils
what was always there in the first place.
Think of it like a person
who has lost a significant amount of weight
and can now see the muscles:
muscles that were there all along.
Jesus' transfiguration, I would argue,
is not so much about Jesus transforming,
but about the eyes of Peter, James and John
being opened up to the reality of
who Jesus really is:
that along with Jesus’ flesh and blood,
tunic and sandals is God:
Light,
brightness,
the culmination of the law
and the prophets:
The arrival of the Messiah,
the Son of God.
The story tells us that Jesus was transfigured,
changed,
transformed
but Jesus Transfigured
Jesus in brilliant glory:
God is who Jesus has been all along.
Believe.
Take Moses,
the one who saw God’s backside,
and had to wear a veil
to cover the radiance and brightness of his face
because others couldn’t take it.
God’s presence transformed Moses.
Moses shone with the brilliance of God’s presence.
It’s also like the burning bush:
Moses saw God’s presence burning
in that tiny spot of creation.
Moses saw creation for what it really is:
shining and burning
with the brilliance and brightness of our God.
What was revealed in the burning bush, I would argue,
is that all creation burns with the presence of God.
Now on that mountaintop,
Peter, James and John saw Jesus
for who Jesus really is -
and having encountered God in this way,
they are the ones who are being transformed.
They need to be transformed because,
without it,
they cannot possibly heed Jesus’ invitation:
Take up your cross and follow me.
positive change takes discipline.
It is no fluke that the Transfiguration happens
after Jesus foretold his death and resurrection.
This is who Jesus is.
No one wants to take up a cross.
The cross is a torture tool from the Roman Empire.
It was shameful to be on the cross.
The crucified are scorned.
They are the enemies of the state.
But that’s who Jesus is.
and that is the hard invitation for the disciples -
and for us.
Take up your cross and follow me.
Believe. Become.
This is not about glorifying suffering.
This is a call to lose yourself for a greater purpose,
and this greater purpose is not for you - singular.
You don’t follow Jesus so your life can be better,
so you can attain financial security,
nor good health,
nor cancer free living.
Those are not promised to you.
What is promised is to you - plural:
forgiveness,
new life,
salvation,
a cross,
and resurrection.
Taking up your cross and following Jesus
means being transformed by God and God’s fullness -
which transforms the world.
And a wonderful side effect
of being transformed by our God:
a side effect of losing your life,
of dying to yourself:
Death comes to those parts of you that need to die.
When you love and serve others,
when you see the other
shining with the Light of the God who made us all,
that is when you really find yourself,
that is when you see yourself
for who you really are.
Believe. Belong. Become.
This world is individualistic,
but humanity, in its essence, is not;
we are created to be together.
We are stuck with each other!
This is good news,
We find who we are
in relationship with God,
with neighbour,
with self,
with creation.
Believe. Belong. Become.
Like the disciples,
we need to be transformed
in order to heed Jesus’ invitation
to take up your cross and follow.
By God’s Spirit, in your baptism,
you are transformed
and God continues to transform you.
Believe. Belong. Become.
You might still see your old sinful self,
but our God doesn’t.
God sees your true self.
God sees you for who you really are:
redeemed,
forgiven,
set free,
and capable of so much good
for the good of the world.
My friends, Change is possible:
dedication,
routine,
discipline
and a dash of motivation
can do wonders for a person.
Daily, Baptism washes you clean.
Daily, baptism transforms you
and reveals who you really are:
saved and beloved.
Living our baptism means our own desires are crucified
and love for others rises from the grave.
This doesn’t mean you don’t take care of yourself.
Jesus says love your neighbour as yourself;
and Jesus says; love your enemies.
So, whatever your view of self is,
Jesus says love yourself.
Remember, Jesus took care of himself:
retreating for prayer,
getting himself invited to homes for meals,
even falling asleep during the storm.
But Jesus did not stay up on the mountain.
The mountaintop may invigorate faith,
but we become who we are made to be
in the valley: in loving service.
And if that valley is a hard place,
remember that the kingdom of God
is near,
Jesus is ushering in the Kingdom of heaven
in the valley.
you belong in the kingdom of God.
May we believe that Jesus is the Christ,
and follow Jesus down into the valley.
May we be transformed by God’s Spirit,
and discover the you that God is helping you become.
May we take up our cross and follow Jesus,
finding our belonging with Christ,
serving neighbour, and all creation.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
