Today the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus is one of those gospel events that steps out of the ordinary. Yes we heard another story today, one that is different from most stories we hear in scripture. The Transfiguration is a story of coming attractions, if you will. Jesus is nearing his end of public ministry and the story seems to act as a glimpse into the very near future-Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Yes, we hear a story. People in all times and cultures have told stories about what matters most to them. There is a saying in many parts of the world which says, “The shortest distance between human beings and the truth is a story.”
Megan McKenna, an internationally known author, theologian, story teller and lecturer, says that stories reveal what is central to the storytellers, in this case, the author of Matthew. They tell us who we are, from where we have come, and what we believe. Stories also relate our failures, lacks, and losses and calls us to take note of the ragged edges of our lives. Sometimes we need stories more than food to stay alive.”
Now we come to our gospel story. Sure enough, an astounding moment is recounted. Jesus is transfigured before his disciples, Peter, James and John. His face shines like the sun and His clothes become a dazzling white. And Moses and Elijah, two of the greatest Jewish heroes but both long dead, appear and talk with Jesus on the mountain.
Poor Peter. He starts to stammer and sputter in response, “Lord, if you want, I will put up three tents- one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But seriously; who would need a tent at a time like this? But what do you say at a time like this? Do you want lunch?
Fortunately for Peter he has no more time to say anything else in haste because just then they were overshadowed by a bright cloud. And, as if all of this wasn’t remarkable enough, a voice speaks to them out of the cloud. Now here is what our Jewish forbearers would have known as they heard this story-God is the one who speaks from a cloud. So this voice is the very voice of God. The voice says, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” Where have we heard similar words in the gospel? Jesus’ Baptism, a voice coming from a cloud.
I think right here at this moment in the story is where the storyteller hopes that we are captured. In the midst of it all, the amazing visuals with which the story unfolds-shining faces, dazzling clothes, dead people talking, a bright cloud overshadowing, the voice of God calls out to us, “Listen to Him.” Not:
Look at Him,
Not Look at this whole amazing scene
Not- be dazzled
Not anything having to do with what we see. Instead, the voice calls us to listen because the things Jesus says are often difficult to hear, not because he asks too much of us (though probably we feel that way sometimes) but because what he says is so counter to what we hear around us in our daily lives all the time.
Peter battled the same thing; In a world when the Roman Empire had conquered and occupied his country and controlled most of his life. The wisdom of the day said that the way to prove the Romans wrong was to beat them back, to drive them out of the country. But who would dare?
So many Jewish people were looking for God to send them a conquerer who would beat the Romans at their own game. The Romans had hit us, so we have to hit back harder. So when Jesus came to announce that God was with them, Peter heard that and responded immediately by leaving his fishing nets behind, traveling with Jesus, and declaring to Him, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
But when Jesus called his people to follow a different way from what they were accustomed to, Peter struggled to hear. In the story that immediately precedes the Transfiguration, Jesus has told his disciples that he is going to Jerusalem to confront the leadership with the way of the Lord and he was going to do so though they would kill him for it.
But even so, He was not going to respond violently. And Peter responded, “God forbid! This must never happen to you.” Peter had been hit and he wanted to hit back harder on the Romans. He did not want to hear about another way. Is there any wonder then that the very next story recounts the voice of God calling out, “Listen to Him!”
So now, what about us. Are we like Peter? Here is some truth about us——–
We have listened or we would not be here today. Even though the wisdom of the day surrounds us, loudly insisting that we must look out for ourselves because no one else is going to do so; that success is measured by dollars; titles after our names; the stuff we acquire; that ease and convenience are the way of our age; the ideal that I want it now; that those who are “other” cannot be trusted; that health and wealth are the signs that one has been blessed; that tenderness and vulnerability make one look weak. We have listened. But the sad part of all this is that the weak get hammered in this culture.
Even though we are surrounded by such messages, we have heard a voice calling us to another way, a way that leads through Justice, and Mercy, Forgiveness and Redemption, Welcoming the “the other”, calling us to service and love. We have listened or we would not be here.
And yet, the gospel message suggests we should ask ourselves if we are ever like Peter, saying to “O.K. I hear you, but…..”
Don’t ask me to do that.
Don’t ask me to love them.
Don’t ask me now.
Are we ever the one’s saying, “I hear you, but”?
Now I cannot answer for you but for me I can say yes I have said to God, “I hear you but!”
If we should find that we are at all like Peter, then we should know that in response to Peter’s yes but, Jesus told him to take up his own cross and follow because those who give up their lives to the gospel will find life.
Yes, Jesus’ way was counter to what Peter wanted to hear, but Jesus said, it is the way to life. And God followed up by telling Peter, “Listen to Him.” Jesus sits on his thrown, not in ruling a people like the Romans did, but by sitting on a throne like we heard in our first reading, upon the thrown of judgement, that has on it the Transfigured Jesus, the Jesus of Love, Compassion and grace. This is what we receive at communion. I am in awe of this. Are you? If not you have not heard.
Megan McKenna says sometimes we need a story more than we need food to stay alive. If we are looking for life with a capital “L” life that is more than our hearts beating or our lungs taking in air, then maybe this story is such food for us, nourishing and nurturing a transformed way of living for us by challenging us to listen to Jesus as he teaches us a different way, even when what he says is hard to hear. May God grant us the grace to listen to Him; No Buts!