Transforming Moments

Jesus Transfiguration
courtesy photobucket.

Edited from Rev. Carol Henley’s sermon at Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, PA    

(Due to technical difficulties, although I was present at my church today, I could not hear the sermon by Pastor Jerry.  I offer this edited substitute on the Same subject.)

 

 

Matthew 17: 1-9   Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and a voice out of the cloud, which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.  And

Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

 

It’s all about change! That’s the kind of world we live in today. It seems, at times, that there is nothing we can count on to stay constant.

 What happened on that mountain top was frightening and unsettling, to say the least.

All of a sudden Jesus’ clothes turned a dazzling white and two prophets, long since departed this life, appeared with Jesus and Jesus was talking to them.

The disciples were terrified at what they were seeing—something so unexpected.   They could only fall on their faces and worship in awe and fear.

 
Moses and Elijah disappeared from the scene, leaving Jesus alone and a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”

 

The disciples then had to get up and move on. They had to come down from the mountain.

Having seen Jesus transfigured and getting the message, beyond a shadow of doubt, that Jesus is the Son of God, they were to move forward, empowered, and not to try to return to the past.

That may be all well and good, but we also experience those times when God seems to be absent from us at particularly painful, transforming moments.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, he cried out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Then he died--alone.

Three days later, he rose from the dead.  He conquered death. What greater transforming moment of empowerment could there possibly be?

 

Jesus appeared upon another mountain top on the day of His ascension. 

In a powerful transforming moment; As he arose into heaven, an angel appeared and spoke these words of comfort; “This same Jesus that you see going up into heaven shall return in like manner and thus will you be with Him forever.”

 

God is with us in all of the transforming moments in our lives, whatever they may be. And through those moments the Holy Spirit is present to strengthen and empower us as we travel on our journey of faith. 

Amen