“TRANSFIGURATION 2024”
Saint Matthew 17: 1-9
The Feast of The Transfiguration of our Lord: 21 January Anno Domini 2024
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Clouds covering Kansas during arctic freezes and snow-covered nights. Darkness of winter points to darkness of sin, darkness of “old Adam” black hearts, darkness of lives lived in barren and cold deserts; the desert of Lent, almost upon us, and the desert of your own sadness—illness, sickness of friends and family, mental and physical exhaustion. This great cloud of doom points all the world, especially Christians, to the end times: death, judgment, heaven, hell.
The German philosopher Max Weber talked of this “cloud of gloom” which seems omnipresent. He posited that your exhaustion (aren’t you exhausted?) and your boring, banal, and mundane “day-to-day” struggles are because you have become dis-enchanted. Not symbolically, but almost literally. This is a loss of faith—or weakness of faith (at best). This is a rejection of God. This is not knowing WHO God is and, if by Grace believing in a God, not knowing WHERE He is.
In English, to “chant” is to sing. For Christians it is to chant/sing to The Lord His praises and His glory. In C.S. Lewis’ allegory ‘The Magician’s Nephew,’ the Christ figure Aslan sings the universe into being. “And God said let there be light,” can be thought of as God chanting “let there be light!” Oh, this is good news, this enchantment, this “deep magic,” this merciful giving of light and life.
Satan blackens and fouls all goodness. Satan is the black cloud of pain, anguish, loneliness, and at times despair. Depression is many times described as a darkness that cannot be escaped. Churchill referred to it as the great “black dog.”
The “12” who had been traveling with God for close to three years had seen many marvels. But like you, like the Hebrews in the desert, their sinful selves quickly forgot miracles and signs and were constantly questing for “new highs.” They were all a bit put-off and apprehensive at their Rabbi’s warnings about His upcoming final trip to Jerusalem where He would be condemned by the leaders of the Jews, spitefully treated, and handed over to the pagan government to be tortured and killed.
Jesus takes His three closest Disciples up on top of a mountain. Though it technically was higher than the hillock of Calvary in pure elevation, in God’s greater reality, it was not as high, not as transcendent, or important, and not as glorious. Why were they there? Why are you here? It was time for some re-enchantment, if but for a moment. For their benefit, for the strengthening of James, the first of the “12” to be martyred, for John, the last of the Apostles-given to pen The Apocalypse, and Peter, who needed all the endurance he could get. Jesus takes the same three who would soon witness the depth of His own humility in Gethsemane and He shows them Who He is. Yes, Peter had confessed Him to be The Christ, but now, Peter would experience Him as “God of God, Light of Light.” John would be so affected that he would later write in His Evangel: “that was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” [Jn. 1.9]. And oh, how He lighteth them. As the Psalmist records: “they had an eye unto Him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed” [Ps. 34.5]. Not ashamed but fearful. For: “a bright cloud overshadowed them.” They saw their Master’s face shine as the sun, and His raiment white as light, but when the cloud overshadowed them with its brightness and that voice spoke, The Holy Spirit testifying in The word of The Father about The incarnate Word “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him,” they were sore afraid—terrified. Good. As the Reformer says “Thou shalt have no other Gods. What does this mean? We should FEAR God above all things.” Now that is Gospel Enchantment of the highest order. This is Whose house you are sitting in right now. Why are your “shoes” still on oh sinful man, this is Holy Ground. This is Beth-El that Jacob experienced: “how dreadful is this place, this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” [Gen. 28.17]. Peter wanted to construct, to raise up three tents for Christ and His two Holy Communicants—The Law and The Prophet. Will you not at least raise up your hearts and wills from the flesh, from presumption and sloth, and confess Him boldly in these last and dangerous times? Take heart, Jesus Himself has raised up the only tent, the only tabernacle that matters—His own crucified and dead body—suffered and killed—for your sins. His Resurrection now fills you with the enchantment of immortality and life; the Spirit Himself tabernacles in you as the Apostle writes. Okay--
It happened. You believe it happened. Now let it inform your actions and words; your piety and reverence, and your very way of life.
But one last speculative thought on this Transfiguration enchantment.
You know that Satan was able to show Christ a vision when he took The Lord to the mountain top at the end of the 40 days of temptation: “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them” [Mt. 4.8]. Dark, devilish enchantment to be sure. But what if Jesus Himself was showing Peter, James, and John, not just what WAS happening, but also what had happened—and of course, will happen When Christ returns in Glory. A glory that will make the Transfiguration look like a mere candle burning.
What if Jesus showed forth the past in a tableau of Truth? What if this WAS when The Lord met Moses on the mountain in Exodus. “Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount, and the glory of The Lord abode…and the sight of the glory of The Lord was like devouring fire…and Moses went into the midst of the cloud” [Ex. 24. 15-17]. What if the Disciples were also seeing when Elias meets His Lord and God—not in the awesome and deadly fire rained down on the drenched wet altar of oxen in the face of the prophets of Baal; not even in his fiery whirlwind Chariot ride to the abode of God; but rather when hiding in a cave “The Word of The Lord came to him…and then when stand[ing] on the mount before The Lord…The Lord passed by. Not in the wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire, but in the still small voice” did Elias speak with The Lord [1Ki. 19]. This time however both Moses and Elias saw their God face to face. Even as you will at the final Advent.
The Alpha and Omega. The beginning and end. The fulfillment of The Law and The Prophets. The one about to head down from the heights into the long, lonely, dusty, hot, and dark land of Lent---all the way to Jerusalem, for you. This is where He brings you to “find him” this morning. To this mountain, to this Word and this Supper.
This Jesus touches you this morning with His enchantment. Arise, and be not afraid!
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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