The Feast of the Transfiguration
(Luke 9)
When Americans hear of a mountaintop experience, they may remember Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, famous speech. On the night before he was assassinated, Dr. King spoke of his seeing from the mountaintop white people and black people standing together for the equality of all. Such a vision enabled King to continue his quest for social justice and world peace. There were threats on his life, but the possibility of a better world made him put fear behind as he marched forward.
Much like Martin Luther King, Peter, James, and John get a glimpse of their goal on the mountaintop. In the Transfiguration they see Jesus in his glory. This revelation will keep the disciples from despair as the bloody passion unfolds. It will also assure them that what they see is true as the unheard-of resurrection erupts. Having been witnesses to Jesus’ anticipatory glory, the three chosen disciples will lead the others in the daunting task of testifying to Jesus’ salvation.
Privy to the Transfiguration through our hearing the gospel account, we too have added impetus to tell others about Jesus. No one is going to kill us for it, but nevertheless we my have to face humiliation and contempt. Jail guards used to ridicule Sunday morning visitors from a Catholic campus ministry who would offer of assistance to the incarcerated. “The ‘do-gooders’ have arrived,” they chimed. “Do-gooders” we all are because of Jesus. He makes us good, and he sends us forth to make the world a little better.
No comments:
Post a Comment