Transfiguration

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being of light, darkness, enlightenment, illuminate, James, Jesus, John, Mount Tabor, Peter, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transfiguration, transformed

When it’s dark outside, we flick a switch or look for a candle so that we can dispel the darkness in order to see. In a similar way, people on a spiritual path most often frame their journey as moving toward enlightenment. That process is not as simple as lighting a lamp or a flame and, although we need to be awake and participative, we are not “the doer.” It is our cooperation with Spirit, that spark of divinity in us, that needs to be activated in order for enlightenment to occur. Moreover, in most cases, it is a momentary experience, but one which changes our perspective such that our living is different – more conscious and loving – because we see more deeply than we did before.

Such was the experience of Peter, James and John one day when they accompanied Jesus up Mount Tabor to pray. It was an extraordinary experience. They saw Jesus transformed into a being of light as he communed with God and with Moses and Elijah. So my question this morning is: who was transformed? The feast celebrated today is called The Transfiguration, meaning “the change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state” (dictionary definition) which is attributed to Jesus as he prays. The vision shocked the men and was so powerfully transformative that Peter wanted to set up tents and stay there – a reasonable response to such an event. As is usually the case, the moment passed and they needed to return to their “ordinary life” but there is no doubt that they were changed and from then on knew a deeper calling to follow even while still not totally understanding all that was involved in their discipleship.

So it is, perhaps, with us. Some of us go through life moving as best we can toward the God in whom we have believed since childhood with nothing but that “still small voice” inside to guide us. Our transformation is organic and steady. Others have bursts of recognition that cause us to change our lives radically toward the good. The goal is the same. We are all called to transformation and the more we cooperate with that impulse, the closer we move toward becoming those beings of light who in time will illuminate the world with love.

Transfiguration

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a peculiar gift, awe, enlightenment, everyday, gifts, God, inner knowing, James, John, Mark, mystical experiences, ongoing journey, openess, Peter, presence of God, shining like the sun, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Thomas Merton, transfiguration

One of the posts here during my Israel trip spoke of Thomas Merton’s mystical vision of people “walking around shining like the sun.” I’m reminded of that image this morning in reading Mark’s version of the familiar story of The Transfiguration, when Jesus was praying and his companions, Peter, James and John, saw him shining in the same way. (MK 9:2-10) As Merton says, mystical experiences cannot be understood with our ordinary minds but only by “a peculiar gift” – a total openness to the presence of God perhaps – which may be fleeting but never forgotten.

I’m interested this morning in the immediate reaction of the apostles – a mixture of terror and awe – which led Peter to suggest that they set up tents and stay on the mountain. And why not? Wouldn’t it be a natural desire if we had such a brilliant experience that revealed a depth heretofore unknown to us to hold onto it? But no. The moment passed and Jesus was again the Jesus they experienced in the everyday. Now, however, the three knew something that they did not know before, something inexplicable that Jesus told them to keep to themselves. Trying to explain it to others would have been difficult and perhaps distracting from the mission of Jesus. If people were to hear of the “ability” of Jesus to be transformed into a being of light they might long for that experience of him and no longer listen to the message of their own transformation into love. So it is with us. If we are granted moments of enlightenment  in whatever way they come to us we ought to be grateful for we will be changed. The challenge is to see these moments of insight (inner knowing) as gifts and to take them to ourselves as strength for the ongoing journey into God who continues to love us more than we can ask or imagine.

Transfiguration

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Elijah, James, Jesus, John, light, Matthew, Messiah, Moses, mystical, Peter, prayer, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transfiguration

The Transfiguration of Jesus is noted in all three of the synoptic gospels (today in MT 17:1-9), which recount that event that took place on “a high mountain” where Jesus went with three of his disciples – Peter, James and John – to pray. What happened there – the transformation of Jesus into a being of light, visited by the spirits of Moses and Elijah – could be characterized as the first great mystical experience of the Christian era. Most likely Jesus was not expecting this happening or he would not have taken anyone with him on this retreat since he cautioned them not to speak of the incident upon their return. By some accounts, the disciples had already witnessed miracles that convinced them Jesus was not the “Messiah” they had been waiting for who would restore the kingdom of Israel. But this was different. This was clearly an experience of union with God that was unprecedented in their midst.

Theologians are unclear about when Jesus became totally aware of his identity, most leaning these days toward the end of his life because the argument that to be “truly human” – including the suffering he endured – would not hold had he not entirely emptied himself of his godly nature. If this is so, the incident of the transfiguration would have been further confirmation for him of his mission. It can also help us as we think of the experiences of Christian mystics throughout the ages who have recounted moments of insight, sensing the presence of God in ways deeper than our ordinary consciousness. Additionally, when we read of those (including young children) who have had “near death experiences” we learn that they are generally suffused with light – most likely not different from the light that enveloped Jesus on the mountain that day.

Mystical experiences cannot be sought; they are pure gift. We can only prepare ourselves for unitive consciousness by our everyday living, opening as best we can to God’s love and desire for our happiness. Practicing by prayer and love for God and others, we can be sure that – if not in this life – we will certainly be suffused with the light of God in the next.