From the Transfiguration into Lent

March Newsletter (again, my apologies: I forgot)

“While [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes
became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah,
talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure,
which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:29-31)

On February 22, we celebrated the transfiguration of Jesus. What an invitation to keep a holy Lent of devotion and discipline. In the transfiguration we see the holiness and power of God in Christ. Faced with such glory, we, like the disciples, fall backwards or kneel, covering our faces: we’re awestruck by the presence of the Holy One. What’s more, exposed to the searing light of perfection, we are almost immediately led to the realization that we are so not perfect, and, indeed, so sinful. Perhaps then, Peter’s suggestion that they build shelters is a subconscious way of sheltering himself from God’s glory and light that displays the extent of his fallen-ness: they can build three houses to put Moses, Elijah, and Jesus in; or, the three disciples can hide in them; but either way, there’s shelter from the painful realization that they are sinners in need of redemption.

Yet, see here the beauty and mystery of the transfiguration – and Jesus’ entire life. In the same event that leads us to see our own sinfulness, we also see signs of God’s way of salvation. We see Jesus clothed in dazzling white, an image that brings to mind the Resurrection scene of men in robes gleaming like lightening proclaiming that Jesus is risen from the dead (Lk 24:4;Mk 16:5; Mt 28:3). Peter, James, and John, of course, don’t make this connection, but Mark and the other gospel writers must want to make it clear for disciples like us. In his transfiguration, we see Jesus as he is, human, divine, holy, and ultimately glorious; and we see Jesus as the word’s savior, who died and rose again to break the power of sin and death.

As we move through the season of Lent, keep these things in mind. Ponder them in your heart. Lent has gotten a bad rap as a dull and dreary season of penitence – a word we relate more to self-punishment than anything else. Yet, consider the joy of Lent. We all know we’re not perfect (or at least I’m not). Lent offers us a time to reflect on our lives and make a fresh start with God. It’s about living more fully in the joy of Easter, the joy of God birthing us all anew through Christ’s victory seen in his empty tomb. Let us cast off the shackles of our own tombs, whatever prevents us from being who Christ calls us to be, and let us grow closer to God together during these forty days.