By Jo-Ann Brant, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy
Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)
The story of the transfiguration makes me smile. Peter, true to form, takes charge and acts, not fully grasping the implications of what he is seeing. He builds three tents (tabernacles). Matthew does not explain his motivation. Clearly he wishes to honor the guests by providing them dwellings. Perhaps Peter is equating the brilliant white appearance of Moses, Elijah and Jesus with their divine status and hastily constructing residences comparable to the tabernacle in which God’s holy presence resided until Solomon constructed a temple. Peter is like most of us who want to honor God by getting the job done before we fully understand the significance of the reality we encounter and in doing so are not fully present to the event.
Now that we have entered into the sacred space of the Lenten and Easter season of the Church year, we are invited to simply watch as the story of the Christ event unfolds and act by letting go of our industry. As someone involved in many of the details of worship planning, I know from experience that we can get a bit too fixated on trying to get it right that we miss the actual experience of God’s presence that our planning is about. I need to stop worrying about such things as whether the flowers are placed at the best location for all in the congregation to see. I hope those of you for whom the planners have planned will be able to let go of any thoughts about what might have been done better so that you too do not miss the full experience of the Easter event.
Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”