Image from agnusday.org
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.’ (Matthew 17:1-9)
I learned about time apart with God when I was in junior high and I was invited to go with our youth group to Mt. Wesley in Kerrville, Texas, for a week. The price was steep; $20 for the whole week, plus gas and spending money. That might be more than my family could afford thought I, but the group started with fund-raising events; bake sales, comidas, etc. And before we knew it we had the $20 for each youth. In those days, Mt. Wesley was out in the middle of nowhere. Kerrville ended and some empty space, then Wt. Wesley. It had a vespers point where you could see the drive-in theatre in town. But the important thing was the purpose behind our being there; to get to know God a little better. In this coming Sunday's lesson from the gospels, Jesus has taken His three inner circle disciples to a retreat up on a high mountain and there something happened that the writer could only explain as Jesus' face shining bright like the sun and Jesus' clothing being dazzling white. Then there appeared two of the Old Testament's heroes, Moses and Elijah, who began speaking with Jesus. Peter, James, and John, caught up in the spiritual power of the moment recognized the two and were dumbfounded as to what to do next? Peter says they will build "dwellings" for each of them in case their time on the earth would be long, but then the voice comes from the clouds and says, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!" That knocked the three disciples to the ground, scared for their lives. But again, it is Jesus who comes and says "Get up, and do not be afraid." Then the order for them to not say a word about what they had seen.
As our little lamb friends say above in the comic, Jesus is the complete Word of God and if we want to know what God has to say about our lives, we should look to Jesus. This event shared a wonderful, unexplainable glimpse into the holy, the realm of God, saying God is not really that far "out there" as we imagine, God is right here, right now and caring for you and me. Through Jesus we have access to God and all that God offers. Why be afraid when we have this faith?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. This event speaks to my heart; I claim courage and strength to move forward in doing what it is You would have me do and be. I want to know You more, Lord, and through Jesus I can. Help me be a blessing to others; this I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
