Today we witness a story of Jesus ascending to a mountain top with a few of his disciples. While they are there, the disciples see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. He is transformed in their image, and we hear the voice from heaven declaring Jesus is God’s son.
Two points here show us that this is a pivotal story for the gospel writer. First, we have a repeat of the words spoken at Jesus’ baptism. “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased.”
Second, we have the appearance of Moses and Elijah on the mountain with Jesus.
Taken together this is meant to show that Jesus is the culmination of all that has come before in the law (represented by Moses) and the prophets (represented by Elijah).
This was an important point in that early community and still for us today. Jesus was born into a Jewish community. His earliest followers were Jewish and would have recognized all of the hints and allusions to the Hebrew Scriptures found in Jesus’ story. And here we have a scene that brings to mind not only the story of Moses going up the mountain to talk with God and receive the ten commandments, but also of Elijah going up the holy mountain to behold the glory of God.
This reinforces their belief that Jesus is indeed the one foretold – the Messiah that would come to fulfill all that is in the law and the prophets.
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Several years ago when I was doing my MDiv at Garrett-Evangelical, I took a class called Worship and the Arts. It was a great class in which we explored the interaction of art with the sacred stories we tell in worship. One of our assignments that term was to develop a work of art based on a biblical story.
I have written poetry for years, so I wanted to stretch myself with another form of artistic expression. I chose to do a painting based on the story of Moses on Mount Sinai from Exodus.
In the background were the pillars of smoke and fire that had guided the Israelites across the desert. Then in the center of a mountain range were two glowing circles. One had two rays coming out of it symbolizing the two rays of light coming out of Moses’ head (translated as horns in Latin, leading to art depicting Moses with horns in the middle ages).
I included a cross in the center of the other circle. You see, I had this story of the Transfiguration in mind as well as I was doing the painting. And I was also reminded of the final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In that episode, Captain Picard has a vision and is guided to bring a star ship to the same point in space at three different times over his life. The result is a rupture in space-time such that in the final minutes of the episode, all three ships from all three times appear at once.
And so I wondered. What if Jesus is not meeting with the spirits of Moses and Elijah? What if somehow this experience that Jesus and his followers have is the same experience that Moses had on the mountain and the same experience that Elijah had on the mountain? What if Jesus and Moses and Elijah are all meeting each other from their own times in this place?
There are other examples of this idea in Christian tradition. For example, in Holy Communion, we participate in Jesus’ last meal with his disciples. Like an octave in music, each Sunday participates in each Sunday that comes before it. Baptism is a participation in the dying and rising of Christ.
There is something to be said for seeing ourselves in the stories that have already been told. Each week, Christian gather together to worship. Like Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, we come into the presence of God. And hopefully we are transformed by our encounter with God.
Or perhaps it is less a transformation and more that what is truly within us finally shows through, if only temporarily. This brings to mind other "trans" words.
Sometimes our true nature is hidden beneath what appears on the outside, and it can be hard to let our true nature out. Whether our true nature is as relatively simple as being a compassionate and loving neighbor to those around us or as difficult as living in a body that doesn’t match who you are inside, it can be difficult to be our true selves. For some, like Jesus, being in God’s presence allows the truth to shine through. But for others, the Church can be a place where the truth is denied, pushed down, and kept hidden.
Like it was for the disciples, the truth can be frightening. But Jesus comes to us and says, "do not be afraid." And we are called to go out to others and say to them, "do not be afraid."
Our call as we come into the presence of God and are transformed by God's presence is to make space for others, to welcome those that may not already know God, to welcome those who have been excluded by others, to welcome people as they really are.
For a time on that mountain Jesus was transfigured. Jesus who had the body of a man also contained within the fullness of God. And his disciples glimpsed the true one hidden by the outer form.
May we, when we gather together to worship, know the presence of God.
May we be transfigured and transformed by this encounter with God that our true nature may come out.
And then let us go forth in service of that truth.