It is good for us to be here: Transfiguration
Peter, James and John are invited by Christ up to the peak of the mountain to pray. The Transfiguration is the last miracle performed by Christ marking the the end of his days on earth. For weeks, he has warned his disciples that the Son of Man will suffer and in three days, rise again.
Imagine it.
Peter has already declared his knowledge that this man Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. But his mind, like ours, has trouble grappling with a man, known to be of human estate, divine.
The three accept the invitation to “come pray with me.”
Once at the top, Peter, John, and James fall into a stupor or semi-sleep. Startled awake, only to see Jesus transfigure in front of their eyes. What does the transfiguration mean? He appears in his glorified state, so white, so light, so pure; they must cover their eyes.
On either side of Jesus, they see the prophets Elijah and Moses.
And then they hear a voice like thunder:
“This is my beloved son, listen to him.”
“It is is good for us to be here,” declares the master of understatement, Peter. The most confusing of the apostles. One moment, Peter seems enveloped in divinity. And the very next, such a sinner that Christ refers to the man who will lead his church as Satan. A paradox, precisely like you and me…
Peter says this because he “does not know what he is saying.”
But I wonder.
What phrasing could possibly fit this experience?
Can you think of even one word?
“It is good for us to be here.”
Yes, Amen, Peter. Jesus saw the simplicity and purity of your heart, your soul, and your mind.
Each year, on August sixth, the Christian church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. Each year we are reminded of our mission, our destiny. To transform and become Him… seeing, feeling, thinking-and loving like Christ.
Impossible.
Alone.
Gospel of Matthew:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
19:16-26
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