“Come to the Holy Mountain”
February 3, 2008, Transfiguration Sunday
Readings: Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9
Have you ever had to interpret anything? I know some of you speak more than one language – you have at least had to interpret words from one language to another in your brain. Most of us have studied another language, even if we have lost use of most of it. Even still, we probably remember at least the bare minimum – I can count pretty well in English, French and Spanish, although if I was asked to do any mathematical calculations, I would have to perform the calculations in English and translate the answer into another language.
Even if you never had to learn another language, we have all had to do something to interpret something to close gaps in communication – you who are parents have no doubt had to explain what a word means to a child. Professional people have to explain jargon or acronyms to the uninitiated, and young people must interpret text message, slang, and techno-jargon to their sometimes bewildered parents.
Did you ever try to describe a taste, or a smell or a feeling? What does an apple taste like? What does it feel like to fall in love? Saying things like, “An onion has a sharp, pungent smell” is not wrong, it just wouldn’t make a good description for someone who had never smelled an onion.
Have you ever had a close encounter with God? How would you describe it?
After his, John Wesley said his “heart was strangely warmed.”
The scriptures in today’s reading are trying to describe in words what it’s like when God invites us to the Holy Mountain for a God-type close encounter!
The people who saw Moses ascend the Holy Mountain said the “Glory of God looked like a raging fire at the top of the mountain.” Moses spent forty days on that Holy Mountain, listen to God give the Law.
Elijah was a great prophet who spent forty days wandering in the wilderness of that same mountain until he heard the voice of God in “a sound of sheer silence.” (1 Kings 19.12) Elijah was later taken to heaven in a whirlwind while a chariot and horses of fire are the symbols of God’s power.
Peter went up the Holy Mountain with Jesus, and Jesus met with both Moses and Elijah. Matthew said, “Sunlight poured from his face.” God is in the fire on Jesus’ face.
The disciples had discussed with Jesus who people thought he was. “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” But Peter claimed he knew who Jesus was, “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,” (Matthew 16.14, 16). Jesus did not dispute it, but he warned them not to tell anyone. Six days later, he led three of them up a high mountain, where they all had a very close encounter with God.
All three synoptic gospels tell this story, with slightly different details. But in each, Jesus becomes radiant as he speaks with Moses and Elijah. And in each, God calls Jesus “Son”. The transfiguration put Jesus on par with the two preeminent figures of Judaism: Moses and Elijah. It also supports his identity as the Son of God. In keeping with the Messianic secret, Jesus tells the witnesses not to tell others what they saw.
The original Greek term in the Gospels is metamorphothe, describing Jesus as having undergone metamorphosis.
All three disciples they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. "Don't be afraid." When they opened their eyes, Jesus was alone and seemingly back to “normal,” – the metamorphosis, if that’s what it was, was over. Or, was it? Matthew doesn’t talk about it, but in Luke’s scripture, it is apparent that this transfiguration was just a step in the journey to the cross, where the real change took place.
As far as we know, Jesus never talked about the experience. No conversation is recorded in the Bible, and the disciples were told to keep quiet about it, too. This was an extremely private moment between Jesus and God.
There are not words to describe the moments we are lucky enough to catch glimpses of God. If we’re lucky enough to experience them at all – is lucky the right word? I doubt it, but it’s not a matter of faith or focus, I don’t think. Some really faithful people don’t feel close to God. So I will call it luck. Perhaps it’s a matter of need. Whatever it is, if we do experience a close encounter with God, we spend a lifetime preparing, fasting, and praying so we can do it again. We climb mountains pursuing a mountaintop experience. We begin a spiritual search that will probably not end in this lifetime. That indescribable feeling of overwhelming awe mixed with wonder and reverence, and – I think “heat” is an apt word – is what Bishop Willimon calls “holy fear” that sense when we realize that God is God and we are not, that there is some distance between us and God and that great mystery and wonder occur at moments when the veil is pulled away and we see and experience the divine.
That is much of what the season of Lent brings—a search for a glimpse of the Living God. But beware! Just as the disciples were afraid on that mountaintop so long ago, we have every right to be fearful! For close encounters with our God can be demanding! As Bishop Willimon put it, “On the mountaintop Jesus doesn't simply reveal himself to his followers, but he demands that they follow him, that they walk the path that he walks.”1 But Jesus gently reminds us, "Get up and do not be afraid!" Those of us here today are ready to meet Jesus on this journey of faith because we remember his assurance that he has promised to stay with us every step of the way, no matter what the journey holds. So, take the journey to God’s Holy mountain without fear – it’s going to be the ride of your life!
Thanks be to God!