…Father Riley will lead us in Stations of the Cross Ash Wednesday at 11:30am followed by our Ash Wednesday service at noon February 26, 2020. He will also lead us in Holy Eucharist March 1 and 15.
…Other services will be Holy Eucharist with Father Jefferson or Morning Prayer led by Mrs. Jane Barnett, 10am as usual.
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
February 23, 2020
Rev’d Lee Jefferson
On this last Sunday after the Epiphany, Jesus is made manifest in yet another way; his transfiguration on the mountain top.
The mountain top experiences of Moses and Jesus are alike in many ways as we hear in the lessons today. These stories bring back a memory from my and Rita’s trips to Israel and I laugh a little at the prayerful experience we had which was nothing like Moses and Jesus’ experiences. We were visiting a site at the top of a mountain, and there was nowhere for the bus to turn around to go back down. So, the bus backed down the mountain! ALL on board were in deep prayer!!
We can hear the common threads in the two mountain top stories of Moses and Jesus. Moses sets out with his assistant Joshua, Jesus sets out with Peter, James and his brother John both parties going up a mountain of God. Moses went up further and a cloud covered the mountain and it stayed there for six days, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses out of the cloud and he entered the cloud. We are told that the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
Jesus was transfigured before his companions and his face shined like the sun and his clothes were dazzling white. Peter and James and John saw Moses and Elijah there with Jesus and wanted to build each of them dwelling but the voice of God spoke and said, “This is my son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” Of course, they were terrified! But Jesus said, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up only Jesus was with them and he instructs them to tell no one until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. Jesus is the one that God called out, and he was made manifest.
Bishop N.T. Wright gives another comparison of the transfiguration that takes a different perspective. He offers a strange parallel and contrast to the crucifixion. This is what he says, and I quote: “Here, on a mountain, is Jesus, revealed in glory; there, on a hill outside Jerusalem, is Jesus, revealed in shame. Here his clothes are shining white; there, they have been stripped off, and soldiers have gambled for them. Here he is flanked by Moses and Elijah, two of Israel’s greatest heroes, representing the law and the prophets; there, he is flanked by two criminals, representing the level to which Israel had sunk in rebellion against God. Here, a bright cloud overshadows the scene; there, darkness comes upon the land. Here Peter blurts out how wonderful it all is; there, he is hiding in shame after denying he even knows Jesus. Here a voice from God himself declares that this is his wonderful son; there, a pagan soldier declares, in surprise, that this really was God’s son.”
May we turn our hearts and minds, and souls toward Jesus and listen to him as God told Peter, James and John to do. May we learn from his transfiguration and his cross that he is the Son of God, and may we carry that message out into the world to others so that we all may be transformed into God’s people who will shine like the stars in God’s kingdom.
AMEN
(Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9)
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