Transfiguration

From time to time in Jesus' life there were moments of transcendent glory. It is hard to know, today, what is historical 'fact' and what is 'based on historical events' and what is 'theological history.' Trying to convey all that Jesus did in a few short words is, as John's Gospel makes clear (twice! 20:30 and 21:25) impossible. The Gospels are, therefore, a compilation of the basic story.

What is the Transfiguration? When we read about Jesus on the Mountain top become a bright shining light, manifesting God's glory (shekinah) we are encountering an event of magnitude. This is not a regular day in the life of Jesus. It is an apocalypse, an unveiling (and in the Revised Common Lectionary that very phrase is found in the reading from 2 Corinthians). In and through the human flesh of Jesus God's Divine Light is manifest (which is Epiphany). That revelation of His identity is the central focus of our text from Luke 9:28ff. Some speculate that the three Gospels are transfering a resurrection appearance to this moment, emphasizing that when Jesus predicts His passion, death and resurrection the resurrection is an unveiling of Divine glory (this is not unthinkable; and having an event out of sequence may be theological history but it is certainly still true). Others (including me) think it more likely that it was an actual occurence in the human ministry of the Lord. I believe this because I know such manifestations do in fact occur, rarely, but with some regularity. It is like people running a sub-four minute mile. Billions of people cannot do it. Billions of people could never do it even if they trained hard. Heck, only a few people can run a quarter of a mile in under a minute (much less keep that pace up four times as long). The rarity of such an event and the unlikelihood of seeing such an event (I never have seen it in person) only means that it is rare and unlikely. It does not mean it is impossible, though.

Why does the transfiguration matter? Well, as I said, because it MANIFESTS (epiphany) Jesus. It shows Him to be "THE Son, the ONLY, the ONE to Whom we should listen." Throughout the ages others have manifest the divine light. While I limit myself to Christian history, such phenomena are reported widely across religious expressions in other faiths. [I will not discuss that here.] What I know is Christian art (from an earlier time) has often employed "the halo" (often a ring of light or an illuminating light around the head). I knew a woman (in 1976) at the church of my youth who said she saw such light. The lights were different colors, based on the type person she was looking at. Was she nuts? No, she was a school teacher. Ordinary in the way kind, loving and good people are ordinary. She did not say or do things which led one to question her sanity. She did not talk much about it, in fact, and only spoke to me about it once. Is it possible that she was able to "see" something others could not. (Q. Are there some people who have unique abilities? A. Yes) Whatever the case, countless numbers have spoken of a Being of Light (named as Jesus by many) who came to them during the time that they were clincally dead (the NDE or Near Death Experience). The story resonates with the experience of many others.

The Light of Jesus is also a symbol. We call Him the Light of the World. It is a literal and also figurative truth. The problem, and this was a major focus of my preaching today, is our vocation is to be THAT light today. We are the Body of Christ. We are the one who (manifested in glory or not) incarnate the Lord Jesus in the world. And in Luke 9 that means we proclaim, we heal and we exorcise. This is the function of the church. If asked, "Do you go to a good church?" I do not know how you can answer "yes" unless those three things are manifest. Proclaiming (sometimes translated "preach") is a herald's work. It is announcing to the world that in this present darkness, in this time of God's apparent absence (i.e. under the rule of satan), a brighter future is promised. And it is already at work among us in and through the ministry of Jesus (today in and through the church). I have often complained that the current state of my church is a heresy riddled joke. What I also want to make clear is that the more "orthodox" expressions of faith found in more "faithful" churches are equally inept at the work of proclamation (and MIA in healing and running the other direction in exorcism). Face it, our churches are empty because the power and authority over demons is not obvious. Churches are not a place where most broken people feel welcome and they are not places where most broken people experience healing.

I am not transposing my homily to the blog, just picking up a theme or two. I close with a heartfelt confession. The failure of the church to herald the kingdom effectively has led to all manner of confusion (especially in the political realm). Mistaking politics (whether right or left) for God's Kingdom is not a good thing. In addition, our neglect of the healing ministry and works of exorcism has given Satan and the demonic freer reign in the world around us. Make no mistake. Like the father and his son who met Jesus at the bottom of the mountain, their suffering is unbearable to them. The pain of being under delusion, suffering illness of body, mind or soul, the horror of brokenness and dissolution are never a minor deal. We are authorized and empowered to make an impact. It is Jesus' plan. One might say His dying request of us. And every failure of ministry leaves in its wake another shattered life and broken heart. And we can do so much better! Some day the church will get it right. We will be like the 12 and the 72 in Luke's Gospel. And when we are we will know that Jesus lives among us, rules among and is continuing His work with signs and wonders. And that will be a better day!