August 6, 2010
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
By Melanie Rigney
As the visions during the night continued, I saw: One like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 2:13-14)
You, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods. (Psalms 97:9)
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:18-19)
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” (Luke 9:28-35)
Piety
O God,
We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
the months of ministry transfigured to a beam of light,
the light of the world,
your light.
May your light shine upon us.
…
We open our eyes and we see Peter’s constructions,
his best plans, our best plans,
our missing the point,
our missing the way.
Forgive our foolishness and sin
We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
not casting us off,
but leading us down, leading us out -
to ministry, to people.
Your love endures forever.
We open our ears and we hear your voice,
‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him!’
And we give you thanks.
Amen. (Excerpted from William Loader’s Transfiguration prayer)
Study
And then, he was transfigured, a change that glorifies and exalts.
His clothing dazzled. His face looked different.
But Peter wasn’t transfigured then. Instead of living in the now, savoring the amazing events, he wanted to build tents to make the moment last. That desire turned to fear when he, John, and James were taken into the cloud and heard the Lord’s voice.
But Peter got it later. Maybe his transfiguration happened when the Risen Lord told him to feed his flock. But we know that somewhere between Christ’s Transfiguration and Peter’s own violent death, this man changed. He quit being afraid. He learned to trust totally in Christ. And as the rock on which the Church was built, he transformed countless hearts, minds and souls. By his example, he showed us how to open our ears and hear the Lord’s voice.
Listen. Can you hear Him?
Action
Is there someone in your life who helps to inspire your walk, who by example helps you to listen to what the Lord is doing to change you? Spend some prayer time today in thanksgiving for that person’s presence.
