Moments of Worship Send Us to a Lifetime of Service
by the Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler
Assigned Texts:
- Exodus 34:29-35
- 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
Most of us who are married began that marriage standing up in front of God, our family, and friends at our wedding. Weddings are wonderful celebrations of love and a place where sacred promises are made. But weddings, as wonderful as they are, do not make the marriage. The essence of a marriage is not the wedding service and reception dinner. The essence of marriage is the relationship and the partnership that the couple now shares as they journey through life together. Marriage is living day to day honoring what was promised at the wedding. Marriage is the give and take of a relationship that grows over the years.
Let’s put today’s transfiguration story in the context of Luke’s Gospel. Our text begins by stating, “eight days after these sayings.” Eight days before this, Jesus had asked his disciples what the crowds were saying about who he was. They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” Then Jesus asked them who they thought that he was, and Peter answered that Jesus was the Messiah, the chosen son of God. Jesus then began to teach him that soon they would make their way to Jerusalem, where he would be arrested, persecuted, and crucified, and three days later, he would rise again. But Matthew’s Gospel then shares with us Peter’s reaction: Don’t go, don’t go, he says. Jesus responds that they must go and rebukes Peter for his response because he sees it as a temptation to waver from God’s will.
In this text, Jesus again pulls away from the world; this time, he brings his leaders: Peter, James, and John.
One would think that as remarkable as this scene is, it would have been the culmination of it all.
Let’s look at what is happening here.
- Our text tells us that Jesus goes up the mountain, apart, a retreat, a separation from the world, like Moses went up the mountain to receive the ten commandments.
- Jesus is joined in this encounter by Moses and Elijah, two pillars of the Hebrew faith.
- Jesus is transfigured, transformed into a bright light. The presence of God was radiating from Jesus in a way that had never been seen. The voice of God is heard, “this is my son, my chosen; listen to him.”
- We might ask why? Why would Jesus need this moment?
- This trip up the mountain was a retreat for Jesus. He knew where he was heading, and he needed this time away. It was essential for all that was about to transpire.
So remarkable was the experience that Peter thought he could make the most of the situation by suggesting that the best thing they could do would be to preserve the moment by building a shelter for the honored guests. As earlier, when Peter mentioned that Jesus should put the cross out of his mind, here he thinks that Jesus should stay on the mountain and prolong this profound experience. This was as good a place as any to hide out and stay away from the growing threat down below. Up here on the mountain, they could spend their time in prayer and devotion in the company of God and these extraordinary guests.
We can’t be hard on the disciples for not getting the full import of what had taken place before them and how Jesus had instructed them. If we had been there, we would have reacted the same way. Perhaps we would have been numb and speechless like James and John. It would have been strange indeed if any of us had not encouraged Jesus to remain in this place and avoid the danger that was before them. We all do what we can to prevent suffering. Peter was saying what we all think, “Who needs the cross? Let’s remain here where it is safe, and we can pray and avoid all the trouble.”
We do not like to believe that Jesus had to leave this beautiful scene of glorification to come down into the world of sin and death and die for us sinners.
Just as a couple can’t remain at the front of a church to live into their marriage, Jesus was not about to stay on this mountain top. Because had he remained there enjoying this incredible moment; he would not have made it to the cross.
The season of Lent, which begins on Wednesday, is bracketed by two very significant events. First, there is this glorious moment of transfiguration, and then there is the crucifixion on another mountain called Calvary. This is the moment that gives Jesus the courage, meaning, and purpose to go through to the next one and beyond.
In just the same way, as important as it is to retreat into our sanctuaries (or zoom) for worship each week, what happens there is not an end in itself. Worship sends us back into the world to BE the church in mission.
Because you see, if we remain in the sanctuary, how are we going to:
- Comfort a grieving family
- Come to the aid of the family who has lost a home in a fire
- Speak tenderly to someone who is broken-hearted
- Provide shelter for those who are homeless
- Visit the sick and those in prison
- Help to feed those who are hungry.
Yes, gathering for worship is a blessing, but let us go from there to be the body of Christ that we are called to be.
