Dear Friends,

In the church calendar, the date of the Feast is August 6^th, but our parish observes it on the first Sunday in August, just to be consistent.

So, all of us who worship and serve in this parish are attached to this particular Feast.  The story of the Transfiguration is told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and it’s Luke’s version that the church calendar assigns to this day.  What does it mean to call ourselves the people of the Transfiguration?

Let’s review what the Feast is all about in Luke’s Gospel: Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him up a mountain to pray. Luke tells us that while Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.  [Ironically, Matthew and Mark use the word ‘transfigured’ to describe Jesus’ appearance, but Luke doesn’t].

Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and the Prophets) appear – in glory – with Jesus, and they speak with him about “his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.” 

Peter and James and John are sleepy, but they do observe this meeting between Jesus and Moses and Elijah.  It’s Peter who wants to build three booths to hold them there – a natural instinct, I suppose.  But then a cloud overshadows the three disciples, which terrifies them – they can’t see anything!  And a voice booms from the cloud: This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 

And then, nothing!  Jesus is found alone, and no one says a word on the long trek down the mountain.

What does this story tell us about who we are as people of the Transfiguration?

1. We do things together (Peter, James and John with Jesus).

2. God sometimes calls us to places we’ve never been before (the mountain).

3. Prayer transfigures us (as it transfigured Jesus).

4. We will see unexpected things in our prayer time (Moses and Elijah).

5. We will be terrified from time to time (the overshadowing cloud).

6. We will hear a message from God (This is my Son!)

7. We will not always understand what we have seen and heard from God, which is why we pray together, talk together, and learn together.

You can find this version of the Transfiguration in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 9, verses 28-36.  Look it up!  We are all connected with this story, and it’s a touchstone that we can refer to again and again as we grow into the people God means for us to be.

Faithfully yours,
Lu-Anne