Transfiguration Sunday - Year A

Welcome Statement

Transfiguration Sunday

Reflects the time Jesus revealed the Glory of God, and was affirmed through the witness of the line of prophets and the law. To help us see how this imagery is rooted in the times of the Israelites, we go to Exodus 24:12-18 to talk about this imagery

Old Testament Reading - Exodus 24:12-18

Exodus 24:12–18 NRSV

The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

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Tablets of Stone

This imagery is important, this shows

Numerical significance

3 Days

Trinity - Triassic patterns, not necessarily the counting of 3, God speaks into creation, spirit descends like a Dover, Jesus incarnates

3 days and nights Jonah is in the whale, most likely dead in some interpretations, before revived to serve the good news of repentance to his enemies.

3 days and nights Jesus is dead but then resurrects

40 Days

The flood rains forty days before the world is renewed

Israel wanders forty years before entering the land

Elijah travels forty days to Horeb

Jesus fasts forty days before public ministry

7 Days

Genesis: 6 days of work 1 day of Rest

Exodus: 6 days of waiting, 1 day God speaks to Moses before the 40 days and nights

So the 1 day is not inactivity, but communion, as God rests and delights in creation, he communes with creation

Old Testament Point #3

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New Testament Reading - Matthew 17:1-9

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. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then 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.” While 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!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As 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.”

Jesus Affirms Sinai & Prophecy

Jesus shows he is the fullfillment, a reaping of what was sowed by Moses and Elijah, Moses and Elijah called Israel to stand apart, to witness to the Glory of God, to prepare the generations that would eventually hear the messiah’s good news, by holding them accountable.

The Sin of Nostalgia

Nostalgia in and of itself is not sin, we all want to remember the good times and give thanks to them.

Where the sin or mistake creeps in, is when we let it replace the present moment, no mindfulness, just this painful longing for the past. This is a real pain we all have, losing loved ones, missing good times with friends, or missing the times of holding our new born baby and watching him or her grow. It is not bad to long this, but we can’t let it define our present either.

Peter tried to hold onto the present, fleeting moment of the Prophets and Law, but the baton was being passed to Jesus, Elijah and Moses could rest and surrender that work to Jesus.

It’s Time to walk down the mountain

There is only one day for rest, but 6 for work. The day of rest is most important of course, but we still have to go back down the mountain and work

Reality says we have to work 7 days a week, it is true we have to lift our fingers to take care of ourselves even on a rest day. You can’t starve yourself, but we do need to rest.

At some point though, we can’t pitch our tents on the mountain and hope that the weekend never ends, we are asked to go back into the world and share the good news in our everday lives.

Closing Statement

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Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, adfs asdfa

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!