Jesus Is Transfigured

 

 

 Luke : 28b-36

The Transfiguration

²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. ³⁰ And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³² Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. ³³ And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. ³⁴ As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” ³⁶ And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

We have a glimpse of the Risen Jesus here on Mount Tabor, a preview of things to come.  Can we imagine what went through the minds of Peter, James and John?  Not only startled, but confused and disoriented, thinking they were in paradise and ready to pitch their tents there.  Can we blame them?  Reading about this event two thousand years later and at the beginning f Lent, we are given a foretaste of the Resurrection and a reminder to us that the glory to come is well worth the wait and the efforts we are making as we make our way through this Lent and in this life, for that matter, sometimes plodding along, or as confused and disoriented as these three apostles.  We need to keep our eyes on the Risen Jesus who has unmuddied the pond, resolved confusion and  vanquished death. May we find time today to pray "on Tabor" with our eyes fixed on the glorified Jesus and be fortified for the remainder of Lent and of our lives.

Bro. Rene