Shiny Jesus

Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel. What do you think? How does it strike you? Let's talk.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

¹Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴Then 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.” ⁵While 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!” ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” ⁸And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
 ⁹As 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.”

Whenever God wants us to do something, he prepares us. Just as last Sunday’s gospel was about preparing the disciples and us, so is the case with this gospel reading.

A lot is going on in this text: an appearance of Moses and Elijah, Jesus glowing, stunned and speechless disciples, and God the Father speaking and affirming who this Jesus is. “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” Where have we heard this before? These are the same words of the Father at Jesus’ baptism, but with one small addition, “listen to him!”

God reached out to us and made us his own in holy baptism. Isn’t listening to Jesus the gist of nurturing this relationship God has begun? Isn’t it by listening to Jesus that we can best serve God? How can we do the work of God if1 we do not listen to God through his word, through prayer, through our family in Christ?

We are approaching Lent, a season of introspection and prayer. Perhaps this is a good time for us to begin again with listening to God.

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