______________________________________________________

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY

Today we walk the familiar paths toward the mysterious and numinous. Though we preach these or similar passages every year to close out the season of Epiphany, the lessons of Transfiguration Sunday never lose the power to stir the imagination and evoke a sense of other-worldliness. May you be faithful in the hearing and telling of this illuminating view of Jesus.

PSALM 99-THE LORD IS KING

This is the final hymn in a collection of hymns that form the theological heart of the psalter: praise to God as the King of the universe (see also Ps. 47, 93, and 95-98). This psalm especially lends itself to this Sunday’s larger theme of transfiguration since the poem will trigger images reminiscent of other passages included in the lessons for this day-earth quaking, trembling in God’s presence, the presence of other-worldly beings, sitting at the footstool of God, overshadowing clouds, and the apodictic speech of God.

EXODUS 34:29-35-TOUCHED BY DIVINITY

In this lesson, Moses descends Mount Sinai with the covenant or "testimony" from God in hand. The writer alerts the reader to a noticeable change that has occurred to Moses since he has been in the mountain of God for an uncommonly long time. We are told that the skin of Moses’ face "shone because he had been talking with God" (v. 29). Such a change frightens Aaron and the Israelites, possibly because they think he himself has taken on some divinity. Thus, Moses would employ a covering of veil before the people though removing when "before the LORD to speak with him" (v. 34).

2 CORINTHIANS 3:12-4:2-AN ANCIENT CHRISTIAN COMMENTARY ON EXODUS

Paul offers us an early Christian commentary on the passage above. Note the context. This commentary forms part of a larger defense of Paul’s authority as an apostle sent by God "who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant" (3:6). The argument is abstruse and the image itself-the veil-shifts to several different meanings. (More about that in the commentary section.) Paul concludes his words by contrasting the new covenant which allows the veil to be removed so that now-through Christ-"all of us, with unveiled faces" behold the glory of the Lord which transforms us more like the image of Christ.

LUKE 9:28-36-A DEEPLY MOVING EXPERIENCE

Peter has identified and proclaimed Jesus identity (9:18-20), yet they still lack a fuller understanding of what exactly that means. Here, Luke pulls the confession and the transfiguration story together in which the one answers more precisely for the other. As at baptism and other significant events in his ministry, Jesus is praying as the Transfiguration occurs. As in the other synoptics, the stock characters appear-Moses and Elijah-who reflect theological nuances not missed by early Christian commentators. The cloud, great terror, words spoken by an unseen voice meant for the disciples ("this, not you, are my . . . Son"), and iridescence makes this lesson one of the Church’s indelible memories.