Happy Valentine’s Day!
Today we gather to conclude the Epiphany season with The Transfiguration of our Lord festival Sunday! This day in the church always precedes the beginning of Lent/Ash Wednesday. This Sunday, the Transfiguration is the second time we have recorded Scripture of God speaking.
At the Baptism of our Lord Sunday, back in January, we heard God speak over Jesus after the Lord is baptized. God said: “You are my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). Today Jesus has gone up on a mountaintop (think more like a large hill) and goes with Peter, James and John.
At this place Jesus is “transfigured” or is “glowing” (another way to see it) and Peter wants to build three tents to stay there and enjoy the mountain top experience. At this point we hear God speak over the Lord: “This is my Son, whom I love, listen to Him.” (Mark 9:7).
They all have this mountain top experience and then the Bible reports there was a great crowd waiting for them. They had to come down the mountain and into the valley where people were waiting for them. This is our task as well. We come off of the “mountain top” of worship and celebrate God’s love into the “valley” of everyday life. People are waiting for us, they need to know they are loved by God, they are forgiven, and peace is within reach. Let’s go into the Lenten season open to how God will “transfigure” us and change us, and lift us, and wash us in baptismal grace. Let’s listen to God’s Words to us: “This is my son/daughter, whom I love and I am well pleased with, listen to them!”
