Sunday, March 3, 2019

Transfiguration of the Lord

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm: 99
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)

The liturgical color for the day is: White

The Transfiguration of the Lord is a festival day on the liturgical calendar.  As such, it is appropriate to celebrate the sacraments that day.  The Transfiguration of the Lord always precedes the celebration of Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the season of Lent.  The observation of a festal Sunday, prior to entering a penitential season is understood as a true celebration that carries one forward into the journey that is Lent.

There are some who look at this story of transfiguration from the perspective of resurrection.  That view holds that this is really a post-resurrection account that the author of the gospel has placed here at the point of Jesus’ turn towards Jerusalem.  The function of doing this is that it gives the reader a memory that will hold up the reader through both the way to Jerusalem and the passion narratives.   Regardless of how one thinks about such form critical approaches to how Holy Scripture came together, the thought that we need something to boost us and bolster us before we begin the journey that takes us to the cross is a worthwhile consideration.

The story is positioned in the Gospel of Luke following Peter’s confession and Jesus’ invitation to take up the cross as disciples.  This signals a turn towards Jerusalem and the way of the cross.  The transfiguration story marks the first step in that journey.

Both the story of the transfiguration and the story of Moses and his radiant shekinah (the Exodus 34 lesson) point to the majesty of God and God’s transcendence and illustrate the Psalmists words (99): Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.

Daris Bultena
General Presbyter