Pastor John Wright

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February 14, 2007

Transfigured!

Sunday is the last Sunday of Epiphany, its culmination in the reading from Luke of the transfiguration. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us of the importance of the Transfiguration: “the Transfiguration "is the sacrament of the second regeneration": our own Resurrection. From now on we share in the Lord's Resurrection through the Spirit who acts in the sacraments of the Body of Christ. The Transfiguration gives us a foretaste of Christ's glorious coming, when he "will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body." But it also recalls that "it is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God".”

The Gospel reading from Luke is profoundly shaped by stories from the OT, with many layers of meaning. Maybe the best way to enter the texts is to begin with the Epistle reading and then move to the Exodus passage and then to the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

This is the second time we have read this passage in Epiphany, highlighting the importance of the passage. Notice that the passage rightfully begins at 12:27, rather than the usual way of beginning the passage at 13:1. What is the difference in the passage whether one begins as 12:27 or 13:1?

In light of the gospel passage to follow, it seems that we should focus on the final “paragraph” of the passage, vv. 8-13. How does what come before prepare for this final passage? Why would it be that “love never ends” in contrast to the other items mentioned. What is seen here as the end, the goal, of human life? How do we participate in this end? Why is it that we now see in a mirror dimly? When will we see face to face?

Exodus 34:29-35

By ending with the emphasis on the phrase “face to face” we see an important link between the Corinthians passage and the OT passage from Exodus. Note the imagery that comes throughout the scene of Moses at Sinai. Read Exod 19:9, 18-20; 20:21; 24:15-18; 33:7-23. Why is it that Moses’ face shines after entering the “darkness” or “cloud”? Why must the text use such imagery to speak of God? For whom does Moses veil his face? Why would the Israelites fear approaching Moses with his face unveiled? Why would Moses unveil his face to speak enter the Tabernacle?

Luke 9:28-36
How does the story of Moses help you understand the imagery of the Luke 9:28-31? Why would Moses and Elijah appear after the transfiguration of Jesus? What is the subject of the conversation between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus? What is the end to which the passage points?
Why would it be that the three disciplines were “weighed down with sleep” during the transfiguration? When does Peter respond? What is wrong with his response? What is the function of the imagery of the cloud? Who enters it? Why does the voice accompany the crowd? Why would the three keep quiet?

What is glimpsed in the story of the Transfiguration about God and ourselves in relationship to God? What is the end of human life? What is the relationship between this end and the person and words of Jesus? Why is it that now we “see in a glass darkly”? What will it be to see “face to face”? Why is it important to keep this end in mind now? Does this take us out a concern for creation?

Posted by johnwright at February 14, 2007 10:32 AM

Comments

John,

I just finished preaching my Transfiguration sermon at a military base in the Middle East. Transfiguration is without question one of the best preaching days of the year--you can't go wrong with good material.

I didn't dwell on the following in my sermon, but it shapes much of my view of the transfiguration:

How much did the transfiguration influence the early church's Christology. Luke's gospel doesn't use the word transfigured (metamorphed) but the concept is still there. Compare the Transfiguration with Philippians 2:5-11 and you'll see it there--complete with "morph" language. There is also the descent/ascent theme. Christ in glory descends the mountain to take the form of a servant, become obedient to death, and is then exalted.

Jerry

Posted by: Jerry Sather at February 18, 2007 2:47 AM

Jerry:

Thanks for the comment. Your question is a good one. It seems to me that we are here in traditions that link to the relationship between Jesus and the Mosaic traditions in earliest Christianity. What is interesting is that the transfiguration is very "Johanine" in some ways, though in the synoptic tradition. If so, it shows a common very early uniting the synoptics and the Johanine Christologies with discussions of Paul such as in 1 and 2 Corinthians! I know enough to see those relations, but not enough to really dig through their significance!

Peace,
John

Posted by: John Wright at February 19, 2007 4:45 PM