The Transfiguration

Rev. King Duncan, a United Methodist minister, offers these insights in today’s gospel proclamation of the Transfiguration. The story of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration occurred at a time when the disciples were in the middle of a long night. The story is told by Matthew, Mark and Luke with an almost equal amount of detail. It is significant that each of the Evangelists introduces his telling of the story with the same word, "after." That word is something more than a connecting-link, a bridge thrown over a blank space of days; it is rather the key which unlocks the whole meaning and mystery of the Transfiguration. Luke begins his version of the Transfiguration story like this: "About eight days after Jesus said this. . . ." Said what? Let's go back a little, and see. Jesus had asked his disciples what people were saying about him. In response, Peter made his memorable confession – the first Apostles’ Creed, if you will – “The Messiah of God.” This is one of those crescendo moments in the New Testament. Immediately, however, Jesus leads their minds down from these celestial heights to the lowest depths of degradation, dishonor, and death. Jesus says, “He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” In just a moment, he shattered the disciples' bright dream. Like some fearful nightmare, the foreshadowing of the cross fell upon their hearts, filling them with fear, and gloom, and striking down hope, and courage, and even faith itself. It would almost seem as if the disciples were unnerved, paralyzed by the blow, and as if an atrophy had stolen over their hearts and lips alike. The next six days are filled with silence, without word or deed, as far as the records show. How shall their lost hope be recalled, or courage be revived? How shall they be taught that death does not end all, and that one shall find his life by losing it? The Transfiguration is the answer. Their experience on the Mount of Transfiguration would wake them in the middle of their long night. Have you ever experienced one of those long nights when your hopes were dashed and your mind and heart were filled with dread? In the middle of our long night God gives us hope. That is what the Transfiguration is all about. The dispirited disciples needed at that moment in their lives to see the glory of Christ revealed. And when his glory was revealed, they were able to get their lives back on track again. And that's what many of us need to know in the middle of our long night. God is still God. Christ is still Lord. Beyond the darkness – whatever that darkness may be – there is the dawn. This line could be added to tombstones all over this world: Hope Brought Him Home. The experience on the Mount of Transfiguration restored the disciples' hope. In the middle of our long nights, may it restore our hope, too!

Msgr. Mike