Peter's Witness to the Transfiguration

This week we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus the Christ.  Transfiguration means that something or someone undergoes a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.  If you are unfamiliar with Matthew's account of the Transfiguration, you can read it in Matthew 17:1-9 as the context for today's passage. 

Peter may have felt he was the best friend of Jesus.  Perhaps he was, but John called himself "the one that Jesus loved."   With John's brother, James, both were in the inner circle of three disciples that always seemed to be invited to be with Jesus in the best times and in the worst times.  They tried to be loyal to him but sometimes they failed, just like we do.   Jesus forgave them each time just like God in Christ forgives us each time we fall short.

Peter tells us that he was an "eyewitness" to the majesty of Christ on the mountain.  And he learned from his experience.  He shares his witness and his wisdom in the passage we read today.

Perhaps before you read on, you might prepare your heart with a Breath Prayer.  Use this one or one that emerges for you as when you become quiet within yourself.  We breathe IN a Name or Image of God that speaks to us and we breathe OUT our deepest desire as a prayerful plea ... try this one and breathe your prayers as long as you can in the quiet.

Breathe in ... Light of Christ

Breathe out ... Shine in my Heart

When you are ready to enter the narrative through "Lectio Divina," pray for illumination of the text ... Light of Christ, shine on my path and in my heart.  I want to pay attention to your word and always walk in your ways.  Lead me and guide me with your Spirit and your wisdom!   Amen.

Step 1:  Read 2 Peter 1:16-21 slowly and reverently ...What word or phrase calls for your attention in your reading?  Spend a few moments pondering how God, through the words of Peter,  may be inviting you to deeper discipleship through your word or phrase ... 

 

We didn’t repeat crafty myths when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Quite the contrary, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes.  He received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to him from the magnificent glory, saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”  We ourselves heard this voice from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. In addition, we have a most reliable prophetic word, and you would do well to pay attention to it, just as you would to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Most important, you must know that no prophecy of scripture represents the prophet’s own understanding of things, because no prophecy ever came by human will. Instead, men and women led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Step 2:  Read the passage again and Reflect ...
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now?  How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?

Step 3:  Read the passage again and Respond ...
What do you say to God about your light, your life and how you feel you are being called?   How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?

Step 4:  Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "be" with God.  Try for 10 minutes or beyond. When you are ready to move on,  pray:
 

Light of Christ, lead me by the power of the Holy Spirit to speak words of life to everyone I meet.  Help me be a lamp shining in dark places.   Amen.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen to this acapella arrangement and if images are a pathway to God for you, watch this youtube video of Majesty by Four Over Forty.  Enjoy!
 

Transfiguration: Witness the Praying Jesus!

Luke’s Jesus was a praying man.  Read this passage which immediately precedes the Transfiguration.  Jesus is praying with the disciples as witness.  As he emerges from his time of prayer, he has challenging questions and strong words for his friends.

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”  He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”  Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Can you imagine hearing your small group leader and best friend say … Some of you “will not taste death before [you] see the kingdom of God.”   OK, what does that mean?   Is that a good thing??  It sounds like a good thing ... I think, but you know Jesus.  If you don't, you should!  I think if the disciples were not slightly off balance before they started following Jesus, he worked at keeping them that way, questioning themselves … I think this makes me feel like I should always be a little off balance ... questioning myself about what I think I know about God!  This way of being invites me to be open to experiences that I might not understand on a human level but can grasp dimly on a deeper spiritual level ... ok, maybe I don’t really understand them at all, I just accept the reality that many people would think I am crazy if they knew my deepest thoughts about God and the things I think I’ve experienced.  I am fine with this.  How about you?

The Transfiguration was just such an experience for the disciples as they witnessed Jesus deep in prayer ... changed, transformed, clothed with glory before their very eyes.  I encourage you not to try to “understand” it … simply open yourself up to “experience” it.  Along with the disciples breath in the beauty of Jesus and imagine the beginning of the dawning reality of his incarnational identity!  Who is this Jesus?  Could he be ... the Messiah of God?

As you prepare your heart to read and pray the scriptures, remember the disciples, remember seekers and struggling believers, remember your own struggles.  Just sit with your "remembering" right now and breathe a gentle breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (6-8 syllables the best)  

Breathe in … Praying Jesus  (pause) 
Breath out … Open my Eyes (pause)

When you are ready to move into the text, use these words from a popular song as a prayer:

Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see You.
To see You high and lifted up, Shining in the light of Your glory.  Amen!

Now, read Luke 9:28-36  with the eyes “of your heart" using Lectio Divina, during which you will breathe and listen deeply to this beautiful mysterious experience of Jesus through the eyes of the disciple’s hearts.  Read the text slowly, savoring the experience in all of its beauty.

Reading 1.    Read the text slowly. Try to engage all of your senses and visualize the scene as it unfolds.   

Movement 1 (Lectio-Read) and simply sit with an image, word or phrase that captures your attention for a few minutes.  Let your soul be stirred in a way it has not been stirred before.   What image, word or phrase is most full of meaning for you where you are in your life right now?

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray.  And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white.  Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus.  They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.  Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.  As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.  Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”  When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

2.    Read the text slowly again ... As you read, listen for the still small voice of the text whispering to you, “Here I am, where are you?”  Where is God calling your attention?  Sit inside the text with the gift God has for you … it can be words from the text OR it can be an image that has arisen from the text.  Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready ...

Movement 2 (Meditatio-Reflect) How does your image, word or phrase speak to your life right now?  Is there a message or a questions hidden within this gift from God?

3.    Read the text slowly again.  How do you offer your prayers and your life to God today?  Respond to God with prayers of light and love ... sing praises, whisper confessions, laugh gratitude, breathe in discernment, breathe out commitment ... or simply allow yourself to bask in the silence of your image.  Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready …

Movement 3 (Oratio-Respond) How do you offer your images, prayers and your life to God today?

4.    Rest in the gentle silence of God's presence.  Breathe in the light of God.  As you move on, breathe out the love of God upon the world!

Movement 4 (Contemplatio-Rest) Breathe … Breathe … Breathe … Amen

I invite you to close this time of praying with scripture by viewing this youtube video:Michael W. Smith sings Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord.   The contributor set the music to beautiful nature photographs … Is it any wonder that Jesus took the disciples up on the top of a mountain to experience such glory.  Isn’t it true that as we gaze upon nature, we gaze upon the glory of the God who creates all things in our beautiful world?

Hood Canal Near Seattle, Washington in January 2013

Thank you 

Creator God

for the Beauty

in Nature!

Transfiguration: Change Me!

Hello dear one ... This is the week of the "transfiguration" of Jesus.  Transfiguration simply means, to change.  The Greek words used here is metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o} which means to change shape or form.   Jesus changed in appearance.   As we move into the small portion of biblical text this week, we seek to experience this power to be changed.

I invite you to sit for a moment and breathe deeply of God's transformational power.   How willing are you to change ... or to "be" changed?  Take a few moments to center yourself on God, the Source of inner movement and holy transformation.  Change is hard.  In the spiritual life, we often talk of "birthing" when we are in the midst of God's holy fire of change.  Know that God loves you and will keep you safe when you are moving through the fiery chamber of transformational power.   

Settle into a place of openness within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables) 

      Breathe in ... God of Change (pause)
      Breath out ... I welcome you (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray:

God of Change, I open my heart to you.  As I read your holy word, reveal yourself to me and help me recognize you when you are calling me to grow closer to you and to who I am meant to be.  Amen.    

Read Mark 9:2-9 slowly, allowing the text to unfold in your mind.  Visualize the scene as if it were taking place before your eyes ...

Mark 9:2-9  (NEW!  Common English Bible CEB)
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white.  Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus.  Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  He said this because he didn’t know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified.  Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him!”  Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.   As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Human One had risen from the dead.

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on just a word or phrase that draws your attention.   Sit with your word or phrase and listen to the small, still voice of God calling you to transformation ... Listen to Jesus!  How does this word or phrase touch your emotions?    Take your emotions deep into silent prayer and let your fear, awe, anxiety, wonder, and any other feelings you have rise up within you, even emotions that don't seem "appropriate," especially those emotions for they all come to teach you and tell you who you are.  Know that God is with you and will always sit with you in your deepest emotions, even when you say crazy things or do silly things.    Sit here with God as long as you like, soak in the love.

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   Jesus tells the disciples not to talk about what has happened on the mountain ... but you are free to talk to God about what is happening within and around you.   As you once again turn your attention to your word or phrase, it's really fine if it is a different one on this reading ... where are you finding the transforming power of God calling you to change or to be still or to listen ... ?  What would you like to say to God about what you are sensing about the changes that are needed.? 

Read the passage again and Rest.  Allow the presence of God to surround you and transform you from moment to moment.  Rest until all words have faded away and you are at rest with the peace of God cradling you in Presence ... Take time to journal your meditations!   Take time to draw or create this transformation ...

When you sense it is time to move out of your meditation ... Pray:

God of fiery transformation and gentle change, I want to be on the mountain with you.  I want to see your face and live.  I want to follow you and share you with others.  Lead me and guide me with loving kindness.   Amen.


Cindy's Journal Reflection ...  a voice spoke ... a voice, spoke ... O God how I long to hear your voice.  I hear it gentle, I hear it loving ... and are you angry instead ... listen you say, and I say speak, let me hear your voice ... I want to listen to the words you say to me ... I want to hear your voice rising from the ashes of despair to bring life and healing to the world ...





To experience this text as an Audio Lectio which is a guided meditation using the structure of Lectio Divina, take this Link:   Transfiguration Sunday.   This Audio Lectio was produced by Alive Now, an offering by Upper Room Ministries.   You can search both websites for more of these lovely meditations and other tools for spiritual nourishment.  Blessings!

Jesus: The Transfiguration

Who is Jesus?  A bible study through the season after Epiphany during which you use the See-Judge-Act methodology.  Aida Irizarry-Fernandez describes this way of bible study as an "action/reflection process rooted in liberation theology and thinking." (Engaging the Bible: Critical Readings from Contemporary Women chapter III "A Communal Reading" page 17)   You'll need an open heart, a willing spirit, and a creative imagination to explore the text in this way.  When you finish your study, discover your own breath prayer.  The breath prayer is an ancient form of repetitive prayer which will emerge from your engagement with the biblical text.

Study Suggestion:       Why not consider asking a few people to join you in a "communal"

reading using this See-Judge-Act method! 

Matthew 17:1-9         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."

Movement 1/See (Read the Text closely/Examination:) We pay attention to the story, the characters, and their original context.   Re-create the scene in your mind’s eye.  Consider time, place, and people.  Consider what you learn from your five senses.    What do you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch?    Visualize what Jesus was doing as he engaged other people … family, friends, strangers and enemies.

Remember the first Sunday of Epiphany?  We saw Jesus baptized by Cousin John in the waters of the River Jordan, and as the heavens opened, we heard the voice of God say, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."  And … suddenly we see the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus like a dove.  The scene is amazing … and shockingly unbelievable as well!    Since that first Sunday we have come to know Jesus the Beloved, as Lamb of God and Light of the World, as One who Blesses, as a Teacher, Preacher, and Healer.  We were also challenged as Jesus invited us deeper into discipleship through the Sermon on the Mount.

This week we do a bit of biblical time-travel (skipping chapters 7-16, time, and a lot of ministry) to another Mountain so we can experience the mysterious account of the Transfiguration 1) leading up to the last Sunday of Epiphany, the season of revelation and light, the season as asking “Who is Jesus?” and 2) leading into Lent, the season of .   Transfiguration comes from the Greek word metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o} which means literally to change into another form.   It sounds much like the word, metamorphosis.   Jesus, Light of the World, is transformed into Light right there on the mountaintop with his closest friends looking in frightened disbelief.   We hear the voice of God once again, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased …”  The scene is amazing … unbelievable as well!   We don’t know what to do with this image any better than Peter did, do we?

Read the passage and walk in the sandals of Peter as he follows Jesus along with his friends, the brothers James and John.  What emotions are you feeling as you take this journey?  Jesus often invites you to solitary places for prayer.   Perhaps you are looking for a little rest and renewal … or perhaps you are itching to get back to the real stuff … the “doing” of ministry.  Is there any indication that this encounter with Jesus will be different than it has been before?  

What do you think … How do you feel when Jesus begins to change, right before your eyes?   

Suddenly you are joined by two pillars of the past, Moses and Elijah.  How do you recognize them?   Why do you think God chose Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the prophets) to appear with Jesus?  What are you feeling when you respond with the offer to make dwellings … an altar to God in three parts?    You fall to the ground in fear when you hear God’s voice.  Why?  What happens when you hear the Voice?  Do you remember hearing God’s voice at the baptism?  How is it different?  How is it the same?  What are you thinking?  How are you feeling?  Would you even want to share this story if Jesus hadn’t asked you not to?   And yet … how do you come away from this experience?  How have you been changed?

Movement 2/Judge (Look at your Life/Spiritual Discernment:) We seek to examine our own lives as we live in community ... search the text as you keep it in its original context and bring it into the "now" through the act of cross-cultural reading.   Consider why Jesus acted as he did and said the things that needed to be said.  Concentrate your attention on Jesus as you seek to be formed in his image and live as he lived.  

What is the Good News you have to share with others from your reading of this passage?  Have you ever had an experience such as this one?  Have you ever had an experience that you don’t talk about because it is too “crazy?”  Would you share your experience with others?  Why or Why not?   How are you challenged to change from your reading of this passage? 

Movement 3/Act (Take action in Light of your Faith/Transformation:) We are called to work so that the reign of God can be realized in the world today.  Work with creativity and compassion, follow the Spirit, meditate on the Word and expect that God will show you how to take action as you apply what you have learned.  

What action do I need to take in order to be responsive to the challenge I hear in the biblical text?   How will I experience the reign of God in my life from my action? 

Prayer:  “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.”  (Luke 12:48b NRSV)  As we are called to act, we sincerely seek the empowerment of Spirit and we are changed.  We become more like Christ.  I invite you to discover your breath prayer 

·         Take time to quiet yourself within. Acknowledge and then let go of all your busy thoughts.

·         Allow a “new” name for God to emerge or simply use the name you usually use when you pray to God

·         Consider the invitation to follow Jesus that emerged during your time of study

·         Work with your words until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe … or pray this one:  

(breath in) Beloved Christ … (breath out) be my light … 

As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that God’s invitation seeps into you and that God’s love begins to flow in to you and out from you into a world that hurts.  


If music is a pathway to God for you, view this video of Christ Be Our Light.

Part 1: The Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36   About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray.  And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white.  Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus.  They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.  Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.  As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.  Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”  When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

 

Photo of traditional site of Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Mount Tabor)

The settlement on the plain in the background is Kfar Kish.  

Taken in Palestine 2005 by Bantosh who has released the phone to the public domain.

Context:  This mysterious episode in the Jesus story that we call "the Transfiguration" foreshadows (gives us a glimpse of what is to come) the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with a "glorious" twist ... In that moment of transformation Jesus is revealed to Peter, James, and John.   Peter had already declared Jesus to be the "Messiah of God" just a short time before and in this passage he and his friends are being called to a deeper understanding of what that means for their lives.  In this strange story that evokes memories of the founding of the Jewish community, Moses and Elijah join Jesus. 

The transfiguration happens on a mountain, which is a traditional place of the meeting between God and people.  Moses encountered God on the mountaintop where he received the ten commandments.  He also led the "exodus" or the movement of the Israelite people through the wilderness following the "pillar of cloud" which was God.  He led the people up to the promised land although he died before crossing over into it.  After battling the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and falling into a deep depression, Elijah was cared for and encountered the "still small voice" of God on a mountain.   In Jewish tradition, both Moses and Elijah had been taken in to heaven.  This would give each one a direct relationship with God and they would have been expected to know the will of God. 

Going Deeper:  The transfiguration happens while Jesus is deep in prayer ... In the book of Luke, Jesus always prays during key transitions or situations.  Here we get a glimpse of the power of Jesus in prayer seeking the will of God.  What is the role of prayer in your life?  How aware of you of God's presence always with you?  

Pondering:  Perhaps the expression "mountaintop experience" emerges from this passage.  Have you ever had one of these experiences?  What was it like?  What did you learn about your faith journey?  What did you learn about Jesus?  Have you ever shared your mountaintop experience with others?  How was it received?   What sense of affirmation did you receive?  What negativity did you sense?

Transformation ... can it really happen in an instance ... on a mountain?  Or is it mostly slow step-by-step slow growth process?  Or is it a spiraling upward sometimes, downward sometimes dance with the divine?   Or perhaps it is all these things at different times in our journey ... what are the most transformative experiences you have had throughout your years? 

Praying:  Take the time to check out  Lord of the Mountaintop: A Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday by Safiyah Fosua.  There is also a Spanish version translated by Julio R. Vargas-Vidala called Señor de la cima.  Read the version that you are most comfortable with ... Let the words speak deeply to you ... is there is line of this prayer that you could take with you into your week that you could think deeply about?  How comfortable do you feel about this.