Matthew 17:1-9

 

Characteristics of Hebrew/Christian visionary stories-elevation (“high mountain” in 5:1), the cloud, (cf. Ex. 24:12-18), divine pronouncement (“this is my Son . . .”), shown to a few taken from larger group, and other signs (“dove”).

• Key word in Matt. 17:2: metamorphoo, in the New Testament, the word always and without exception occurs in the passive voice (cf. Mk 9:2, Ro. 12:2); Luke avoids the term altogether using instead, egeneto heteron, “was altered,” or literally, became different.”

• NIB:

The transfiguration story recalls the baptism of Jesus, and the voice from heaven designates him both (powerful) Son of God and (weak) suffering servant. This commission is reconfirmed as Jesus begins to instruct his disciples on the meaning and cost of discipleship.

• Luke connects the story with prayer, not with theological connections to Moses (Torah, the Exodus) or Elijah (the prophets). Both Moses and Elijah were thought to have been translated into heaven, according to II Kings 2 and apocalyptic work, The Assumption of Moses.

• John P. Meier on the “high mountain:”

Matthew’s use of the high mountain is his favorite way of saying that a deeply moving experience is about to come our way; a life-changing experience that will forever leave an indelible mark on their memory and recall.

 

Frederick Buechner describes the transfiguration as: “the holiness of the man shining through his humanness, his face so afire with it they were almost blinded.”

• How can we artfully retell an all-too-familiar story like Transfiguration and especially if our community of faith hears it every year at this time? Perhaps we could tell the story from inside Peter’s head-earlier in the week he’d given the right answer but wrong application and gotten shamed by Jesus in front of the rest-all over Jesus’ identity and mission. Perhaps the transfiguration could heard from that larger context.

• What “deeply moving experiences” have you had? How have they impacted your faith? Life?

Discuss the place afforded Scripture in Christian worship. If you have a pulpit and lectern, you may wish to explain that even sermons-which are based on Scripture-are to be distinguished from the pure Word of God.

• But isn’t personal experiences just as important? You may want to allude to yours or another’s personal spiritual experience - out of body phenomena or refer to popular movies that showcase spiritual experiences.

• Shift to Transfiguration-describe this luminous experience; so indelibly planted is this scene among the earliest Christians that it was included in all the synoptic evangelists’ accounts. The writer purportedly Peter, now an old man remembers back-he can still recall this incredible experience.

• Learning moment-Notice what the writer of 2 Peter says of experience in the light of Scripture: ”We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed . . . you will do well to be attentive to this.” The spiritual experience of Peter, James, and John confirms the Scripture; experiences are at best confirmatory, not predominate.

• Balance: you may want to refer to the use of the quadrilateral, the four ways that we arrive at truth-Scripture, Reasoning, Experience, and Tradition.