633 sligo avenue, silver spring, md 20910
633 sligo avenue, silver spring, md 20910
Rev. Susan G. Astarita
August 6, 2006
Dear Friends:
Let's talk a bit about the story of the Transfiguration in Luke's version as a preamble to our reflection at the gospel and sermon time. The feast of the Transfiguration was celebrated as early as the fourth century in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, and became a universal feast in the Western church by the 15th century. Each of the synoptic gospels includes an account of this wondrous revelatory experience of mystery and awe. (Mark 9:2-10; Matthew 17:11-19; and today's reading Luke 9:28-36).
The gospel passage first refers to earlier "sayings." Peter had called Jesus the Messiah of God, Jesus predicted his passion, and reference is made to the true cost of discipliesship. Moreover, the passage as a whole makes a turning point in the ministry of Jesus as he begins his journey to Jerusalem.
Luke's story is set within the context of prayer with Peter, James and John. His appearance changes as his clothes become dazzling white as an outward sign of his divinity. Moses, representing the law, and Elijah, the prophets, have a conversation with Jesus and are connected with him in glory predicting the coming of the Son of Man. Tradition said that the reappearance of these two prophets would be a sign of the coming of the Messianic age.
Peter and the others, Luke tells us in detail unique to his gospel, were weighed down with sleep. Later on, we remember, these three men would fall asleep on the Mount of Olives while Jesus prayed.
Peter then, in a misguided attempt to capture an experience of the divine glory with a physical memorial, proposes to erect dwellings or temporary shelters honoring Elijah, Moses and Jesus to mark the site. The tents or booths would be similar to ones customarily constructed at the harvest Feast of booths marked as a Jerusalem pilgrim festival of the day. Three similar dwellings would incorrectly imply that the three were equal.
Finally in a voice from the cloud using words similar to those given as Jesus began his ministry at Baptism, God affirms Jesus as God's Son, the Messiah who would supersede the law and the prophets. We are given a foretaste of the coming glory of Jesus in his death and resurrection.
Faithfully in Christ,
Mother Susan +