A sermon by: Cynthia MacLachlan

Transfiguration‌ ‌Sunday‌‌

‌2‌ ‌Kings‌ ‌2:1-12‌ / Psalm‌ ‌50:‌ ‌1-6‌ / 2‌ ‌Corinthians‌ ‌4:3-6‌ ‌

Mark‌ ‌9:2-9‌

Jesus certainly appears to be the main character in our gospel passage today. And yes this story is very much about Jesus, but Mark recounts the Transfiguration as an event that is for the disciples. The story is told through their eyes. Jesus leads Peter, James and John up the mountain and is transfigured “before them” (9:2); Elijah and Moses “appear to them” (9:4), Mark describes their reactions and emotions (9:5-6), the cloud “overshadows them” (9:7); the voice speaks directly to them (9:7); and the end of the vision is described in terms of what they see when they look around (9:8).

The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event that in a very mystical and miraculous way, God lifts the veil and allows the disciples to see who Jesus really is; to see that they are in the presence of the Glory of God. Jesus’ outward appearance is changed - Jesus himself doesn’t change - only how the disciples see him. It is an external transfiguration that allows the disciples to see Jesus in a different light (literally and figuratively) and they in turn are inwardly transformed.

You may be able to recall your own spiritual mountaintop moments; moments where you have experienced God’s presence intimately; where what you thought you knew about God expands and you come to know God in a different way...kind of like when you are looking at a horizon and as you come closer, suddenly what you thought was the end, grows and expands into a completely new horizon. These are powerful moments, ones that change who you are right from your inner being.

Epiphanies like these - these mountaintop experiences - can be fleeting at best. No wonder Peter suggests building a shelter for Jesus, Moses and Elijah; how nice it would be to simply stay there. How do we respond to these moments? Maybe we are uncomfortable, so we busy ourselves. Maybe we aren’t quite ready for what is revealed to us or maybe scared of what it means...what it might cost. All of these and I’m sure other kinds of responses are probably very normal...and it may be that we aren’t quite sure what to do with the experience.

But the story doesn’t end there. Jesus shows them the way...back down the mountain. The disciples by this point have already heard Jesus speak about his predicted death (8:31), about taking up the cross and losing their lives for the sake of the gospel (8:34-38). The disciples have already left their family and livelihoods - all that they have known, to follow Jesus. As they go back down the mountain, they are entering back into the difficult reality that lays before them. Mark describes a fear felt by the disciples (9:6). Even though they have just witnessed this wondrous, miraculous event where their eyes have been opened to see Jesus more fully...they are beginning to understand it will not be easy.

The disciples are about to encounter a darkness, a darkness that is determined to extinguish the Light and cover up the Truth. At this point in our story, the disciples don’t fully understand what is to come - thankfully, we know that the light and love of the Son of God will shine light on the truth and transform the darkness.

I recently read an article, originally published in the Washington Post, that shared a story about a group of volunteers who reach out to families and individuals influenced by the growing extremist and hate-filled ideologies infiltrating the many corners of social media. Sadly, this tactic of preying on vulnerable teenagers and young adults is exacerbated by the isolation and anger caused by the pandemic. But this group of volunteers, many reformed extremists themselves, are choosing to reach out to those who seem lost, who seem unreachable. They are choosing to reach out with compassion and love to challenge and expose the hate and misinformation for what it really is. Is this not a beautiful example of the work of love reaching out to transform darkness?

As we are about to begin our Lenten Journey, we look forward to another hilltop experience - the hilltop of Calvary. Another encounter in which the Son of God will be revealed in a new light - another way in which God’s love will transform the darkness. This is the work of love. And my prayer today is that as we encounter these mountaintop experiences, that we may perceive more and more of who God is, being strengthened and changed more and more into God’s likeness, and ready to do the work of love, to transform the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Telling people that God loves them is good theology.

Showing people that you love them is what transforms the world.”

~ Jim Palmer (contemporary spiritual teacher)