The Transfiguration - the fully human and divine one

Celebrating The Transfiguration just before Lent reminds us that the fully human one – Jesus who fully enters our life and struggles and will experience the reality of violence and death - is also the fully divine one.  A being who shines with holy light. It is as though for a moment the full nature of Jesus is revealed so that we might know who he was and who we are called to become. No one less that God’s fullness has come to dwell with us in the ruins of our individual and collective lives and illumine our darkness with unquenchable love and therefore hope. (Matthew 17:1-9)

Sentence:

“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light.” Matthew 17:2

Collect:

Heavenly Creator,

From whom all light and life pour,

open our eyes and hearts that we might truly see your Beloved son,

and recognise each other as beloveds.

Enable us to see your light and purpose in others and our own selves

so that all may come to know their place in your kingdom of love.

This we pray in the name of Jesus the Beloved,

our teacher and guide, our saviour and companion. Amen.

Reflection:

Celebrating The Transfiguration just before Lent reminds us that the fully human one - who fully enters our life and struggles and will experience the reality of violence and death - is also the fully divine one.  A being who shines with holy light. It is as though for a moment the full nature of Jesus is revealed so that we might know who he was and who we are called to become.

And yet at this moment in our life and our shared history we may feel that this is fanciful and detached from reality as we find ourselves experiencing it. Now, especially now and here (where ever that is for us), we need to glimpse that the transfiguration of Jesus was not only what happened long ago but is also a principle that continues to transform our world – ready or not!

You may like to consider what I wrote six years ago as I reflected on the biblical images and claims within the Transfiguration story.

The Transfiguration

Or what I wrote three years ago where I explored the image of being told to come down the mountain, back to real life on the plains, after the mountain top experience!

Bringing the light down the mountain

Desmond Tutu said it powerfully: “The principle of transfiguration says nothing, no one and no situation, is “untransfigurable,” that the whole of creation, nature, waits expectantly for its transfiguration, when it will be released from its bondage and share in the glorious liberty of the children of God, when it will not be just dry inert matter but will be translucent with divine glory. . . .All over this magnificent world God calls us to extend [God’s] kingdom of shalom—peace and wholeness—of justice, of goodness, of compassion, of caring, of sharing, of laughter, of joy, and of reconciliation. God is transfiguring the world right this very moment through us because God believes in us and because God loves us. What can separate us from the love of God? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And as we share God’s love with our brothers and sisters, God’s other children, there is no tyrant who can resist us, no oppression that cannot be ended, no hunger that cannot be fed, no wound that cannot be healed, no hatred that cannot be turned to love, no dream that cannot be fulfilled.”  

Transfiguration, like transformation and resurrection, is a concept that we are challenged to discern in the here and now of our individual lives and our collective moment in history. Where can we see, even for a moment, the divine light shining through in ordinary and impossible situations and persons? And if we cannot see it yet, where do we pray the light of Christ to emerge? And do we dare to understand that we are called to be channels of that light and love? Even broken, fallible, anxious us?!

Even so, come Lord Jesus the Christ, come speak in tones and images we cannot ignore and remind us that we are called to be bearers of light.

Intercessions:

Gracious God, Source of all that was, is, and might be,

First spark of all that is light and dazzling darkness,

that infuses and inspires all life – glorious and humble;

Grant us eyes and hearts to perceive your presence in your Son,

in our neighbours and in our own selves,

and to respond with reverence and delight.

We particularly pray for all peoples, creatures and parts of creation

that are diminished by fear, poverty, exploitation and degradation…

We ask that the injured be set free and know liberty,

and we pray that those who harm may be constrained

and come to desire forgiveness and change…

Source of light and love,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus the Christ, our Redeemer,

our guide and role model, our physician and friend:

come inspire and provoke us until we desire to be vessels of your light.

We pray for all communities of faith, including ourselves,

that we would be inspired to bring light and love

more than judgement and punishment.

We particularly pray for the communities of which we are a part …

our families and friends, our schools and collectives of artists and creatives, our service organisations and all who work for the common good …

may we support and encourage so that all may flourish.

Jesus the Christ our Redeemer,

Hear our prayer.

Spirit of the Living God, who filled your holy ones of old with light,

we pray you infuse us with that same spirit that we might embody the cleansing, healing flames of your love in this place and time.

In your holy presence we open ourselves to your good and bold purposes and offer up those we know to be in need of healing.

We particularly pray for all those who are in pain, confusion or despair …

We pray for ourselves and those who lead and serve us the gift of desire and imagination where we are weary, courage where we are feint hearted, and hope where we are afraid.

Spirit of God,

Hear our prayer.

Living God,

Creator, Redeemer of all, Spirit that Sustains,

We pray in the name of your Beloved Son, the Christ, who came among us and called us to follow. Amen. 

 This is my work informed by all that I have heard, read and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others. This week I am especially indebted to the memory and work of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams, God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time (New York: Doubleday, 2004), 1–3, 128. 

And because it is nearly Lent you may be interested in my Lent course based on the Revised Common Lectionary readings for Sundays. This is particularly suitable to those who preach and lead worship and all who attend deeply to the gospel we hear week by week. This is free of charge and downloadable.

Lent and Easter Year A