Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of our Lord

The Transfiguration of our Lord is a movable feast day that falls on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. Today was the Feast of the Transfiguration in churches that use the three-year lectionary; churches that use the one-year lectionary celebrated the Transfiguration a few weeks ago, and are wrapping up their “Pre-Lent” season today. The Feast of the Transfiguration is also the Sunday that marks the “farewell to alleluias” before Lent begins.

The Transfiguration is found in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-12; and Luke 9:28-36).  It is in these readings that Jesus’s disciples see Him in His glory on the mountaintop, accompanied by Moses and Elijah. The disciples are so excited about the wonder that they are seeing that Peter even offers to construct three tents, that they might stay on the mountain. Like the day of Jesus’s baptism, God the Father speaks out from Heaven, and recognizes Who Jesus is, and tells the disciples to listen to Him.

As we prepare for Lent, we share the feelings of the disciples, as expressed in the words of the hymn, “‘Tis Good. Lord, To Be Here:”

Tis good, Lord, to be here!
Yet we may not remain;
But since Thou bidst us leave the mount,
Come with us to the plain. Lutheran Service Book #414, verse four

The Jesus Tree–Day Eleven

Today’s topic was the Transfiguration. Again, we read from Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36. I thought it was interesting that, although Jesus instructed His disciples that were with him, (Peter, James, and John), not to tell anyone about what they had seen on the mountain, only Luke specifically mentions the disciples actually keeping silent. Let’s face it–they were an impulsive bunch, (especially Peter!), and even with Jesus’s instructions, I kind of figured word may have leaked out anyway! No Transfiguration account in John, even though, once again, he was a witness to the event.

I have to admit, I was intimidated by making this symbol, because I didn’t want to mess up a likeness of Jesus. I guess it turned out OK, but it could have been better. I do think I would have been more comfortable just doing the light by itself, though!

Hymn of the Day–Transfiguration Sunday

I love Transfiguration Sunday. It’s kind of a bittersweet day. We get to look upon Jesus in all His glory, but just for a moment. And we know the path He must take that begins with the season of Lent this coming Wednesday. Like His disciples, we wish to stay with Jesus on the mountain, to ignore everything else but His majesty. But, we know that it isn’t time yet, and so we must leave the peak, and return to our daily lives.

Yes, “‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here” is an obvious choice for today, but it’s my favorite Transfiguration hymn…especially the last lines of the last verse: “But since Thou bidst us leave the mount, Come with us to the plain.” This so perfectly states how the disciples, (and we), felt…if we can’t be with Jesus in His glory (yet) we beg Him to be with us in our weaknesses, which, of course, He always is!

‘Tis good, Lord, to be here!
Thy glory fills the night;
Thy face and garments, like the sun,
Shine with unborrowed light.

‘Tis good, Lord, to be here,
Thy beauty to behold
Where Moses and Elijah stand,
Thy messengers of old.

Fulfiller of the past
And hope of things to be,
We hail Thy body glorified
And our redemption see.

Before we taste of death,
We see Thy kingdom come;
We long to hold the vision bright
And make this hill our home.

‘Tis good, Lord, to be here!
Yet we may not remain;
But since Thou bidst us leave the mount,
Come with us to the plain. Lutheran Service Book #414