Sunday before Lent Luke 9:28-36 Exodus 34-29-end

The account of the Transfiguration recalls an experience of an uncertain nature. Perhaps we may best describe it as intensely religious and mystical. Jesus was praying and the appearance of his face changed while he was doing so. Three of the disciples, Peter and John and James, had gone with him up on a mountain and were witnesses of what happened there. Not only did Jesus’ face change in an aura of unnatural brilliance; suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and were talking to Jesus. Moses and Elijah were two major historic figures and paragons of the Jewish faith; Moses as the lawgiver, and Elijah as the great prophet. So, as representatives of Israel’s main connections with God in history, their sudden appearance made a statement. What is more, their encounters with God had had a profound effect at the time. Moses had been the one who led the people out of slavery in Egypt. Later, when he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. It was too much for the people, so he had to wear a veil for some time, or they would be afraid. Elijah had been an amazing prophet, speaking the word of God so powerfully that it changed situations most miraculously. Now, appearing to Jesus, we don’t have a record of their exact words but they were speaking of Jesus’ ‘departure’, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. This departure is literally called ‘exodus’ in the meaning of the text and probably refers to Jesus’ death and resurrection and possibly also his ascension. The account of the Transfiguration includes the somewhat amusing response of Peter, who, being sleepy yet still awake, saw the glory of Jesus and the two men in his company. Peter suggests to have a shelter made for all three. We read that he didn’t really know what he was saying, but the most likely interpretation is that he wanted to preserve the experience, as it was all so very special and significant. The cloud that then came and overshadowed them, however, terrified the disciples. The whole experience was then topped off with the voice from God himself, saying: ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’

Another reading that the Lectionary puts together with Luke’s account of the Transfiguration is 2 Corinthians 3, in which Paul refers to the veil that Moses had to put over his face. He says that, although they could see the glory of God reflected on his face, their minds were hardened. ‘Indeed,’ he continues, ‘to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. [….] to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.’

The Church does talk about ‘the veil’ and the way we are called to come close into God’s presence, ‘within the veil’. As Paul also says, ‘They suddenly recognise that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiselled stone.’ And when we are that close to God, we find that ‘our faces shine with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.’ Is this too much to grasp? Is it even something we are looking forward too? We may be uncertain at present; we may dither, we may be afraid. But let us be encouraged: God longs for us to approach him with boldness and with expectation. So let us move ever closer in his direction. Amen.