Brilliance

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 

Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.  

As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. (Mark 9:2-10)

Mark’s intent is clear.  He believed Jesus was the “new” Moses and Elijah. They disappeared, but Jesus remained.  

Mark drew upon today’s first reading from Daniel: “As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; his throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire…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."

Jesus’ transfiguration was not as spectacular as that described by Daniel, but it was still rather brilliant.  We now ask ourselves: How can we become that brilliant without involving our avatars in colorful, exciting computer games?  

It’s really simple. We must get off our thrones; come down from our high mountains; pitch our tents next to Jesus; and then behave as God’s sons and daughters through service. That’s transfiguration!

Deacon David Pierce