Readings for Transfiguration/C:
2 Cor. 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36
February 14, 2010
The Rev. Karen Faye Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino, CA
“And while Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.” [Luke 9:29]
Have you ever taken someone for granted? You know- a family member, a friend, a colleague, a parishioner- someone whom you’ve known for years and assume that they will be around forever. If so, there have probably been times when you have not appreciated them as much as they deserve. Or perhaps you know them so well, that you have become irritated by their foibles rather than enamored by their gifts. When we take people for granted, our vision of them becomes limited and we often fail to see them as created in the image of God. It isn’t until something significant happens (such as a death, a celebration, or a significant encounter) that the veil is removed and we can see them in all their glory. What I would like to talk about today is removing the veil from our eyes so that we can have an epiphany of the glory of God that is all around us. As Irenaeus once said: “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.”
A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend a retirement celebration of a person who seemed like a middle-aged, beer-drinking, pot-bellied, loud mouth. Being influenced by external characteristics, I failed to see the incredible human-being underneath. But that all changed when I heard many of his colleagues and friends witness to his life. This retiree had spent 40 years, generously giving his time and talent in fighting for the rights of disabled students. With his big mouth, he went to Sacramento where he fought tirelessly for money, programs, and the rights for students with disabilities. He built ramps, purchased chair lifts, changed policies, and made the school accessible so that those with significant, physical challenges could go to college to gain the skills and the knowledge to be successful in life. During that retirement party, this pot-bellied man was transfigured before my eyes.
Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration. This year, we read the story according to the gospel of Luke. It is a puzzling story that reeks of mysticism, confusion, and surprise. A light was shone on the person of Jesus in such a way that his disciples no longer took him for granted. What stands out for me in this account is that Jesus was in deep prayer when the appearance of his face and clothes changed. The gospel of Luke underscores the power of prayer to mediate the presence of God. Peter, James, and John have a difficult time interpreting the significance of this epiphany because they are sleepy (or if you interpret this theologically), there is a veil over their eyes. They are unable to understand or see the newness of God in their friend Jesus. So instead of being present with what is, they fall back on their Jewish tradition to make sense of this mystical experience. Then a cloud overshadows them, they have another epiphany (in the form of an auditory manifestation) saying: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Nine simply words and yet they are perhaps the most difficult words for Episcopalians to embrace: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
Instead of listening to Jesus, some folks approach Jesus as a problem to be solved or a theological concept to be rationalized. To admit that Jesus is the ‘Word of God made flesh’ takes a posture of humility and openness on our part. Instead of entering into a mystical union with God in Christ, many Episcopalians spend their time and efforts refuting doctrine about Jesus. As a result, they become like the Israelites whom Paul spoke about in his second letter to the Corinthians that was read today: “Their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there. A veil lies over their minds.” {2 Corinthians 3}
I think we Episcopalians need to do more work on removing the veil that covers our mind if we want to see Jesus in a new and exciting light. This can be difficult, especially since 2000 years have gone by since his earthly ministry. Remember, the account of the transfiguration records the kind of experience that only a few privileged have had in the entire history of Israel and the early church. Mystics and saints have lived lives of disciplined piety in hopes of attaining such a beatific vision but many never actually achieved that vision.
So what can ordinary mortals like us do in order to have the veil removed so that we can hear the voice of God and have a chance at transformation? According to Paul, “the veil is removed when one turns to the Lord.” {2 Corinthians 3} As long as we stick our heads in books and read the Scriptures as if they were that same, ole, ‘blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,’ we are going to miss out on the freshness of the Spirit that is moving among us. Words engraved in stone remain words engraved in stone. It is only through entering into a personal relationship with Christ that the words of stone can turn into words of life. I think we also need to engage in mature theological reflection and ask honest questions like: Who am I? Who is God? How was God present in the person of Jesus? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? What do our answers to these questions mean for our values, priorities, and commitments?
About 25 years ago, I was attending an educational forum at my church. We were studying the wisdom sayings from the Hindu tradition and comparing them with the wisdom sayings of the gospels. Suddenly it all clicked and the gospels came alive for me. My mind began to understand what had been previously hidden and I was overcome with the presence of the Holy Spirit. No longer was I stuck on trying to understand the doctrines of the Church. No longer was I preoccupied with the “blah, blah, blah” of someone else’s interpretation of who Jesus was. I began to appropriate him for myself and in that process, Jesus was transfigured before me and the veil was lifted.
What touches me most about Jesus in my life today, was his openness to the Holy Spirit and what became possible in his ministry when he allowed himself to be led by this Spirit. His incredible gifts of healing and insight were not because he had super-human powers. He was human just like you and me. His gifts were so incredible because he undergirded them with love and generosity. The Holy Spirit working within us can do likewise; more than we could ever hope or imagine on our own. So for me, I look to Jesus as the template for what a human being can be and for what I can become. I look to Jesus as a mentored on how to be more open to this Spirit. I turn to Jesus to give me courage to do the things I need to do without being overcome by fear or worrying about the outcome. By learning to be one with the Spirit of Jesus, I become one with the Spirit of God, knowing that in my most enlightened moments that “neither death nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” {Romans 8:38} And because my understanding of Jesus is personal, spirit-filled, and not imposed, I don’t have to spend my energy being stymied with doctrines that don’t always make sense. Remember, doctrines do not save. Jesus does!
This season of Epiphany began with visit of the magi who followed a star and it ends with the Transfiguration of Jesus. During this season, we talked about the following: 1) Becoming who you were born to be. 2) What it means to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. 3) ‘Love’ being the mark of a faithful and vibrant congregation. Living in faith everyday. 4) Recognizing an epiphany as a call to truth. It is my hope that these reflections on the Scriptures help you become a more loving person and in that posture of love, make life more meaningful for you. After all, that is what the Christian journey is all about. It is a journey from a place of fear to a place of love. The rest of Christianity is simply a commentary on the great commandment to love.
So on this Valentine’s Day of 2010, I want to close with a blessing: May love abound in your heart. May you shower this love on those significant people in your life so that they are transfigured before you. May your love be marked by patience, kindness, and hope, never taking anyone for granted. And may this love so transform you that the veil is removed and you are able to see the Christ in each and every person you touch. In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and the Love that exists between them.
| Updated February 20, 2010 |
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