Change in Motion

Luke 9:28-43
The Transfiguration
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

Have you had a game changing moment in your life, something that altered the course of your life, or something that revealed a sense of love, purpose, or security?  Chances are, that moment didn’t last.

Many people find themselves in a personal crisis of faith when the God that was once a comfort, or a safe zone has become less definitive, or less apparent, or crowded with questions with new found knowledge.

Transfiguration – literally changed figure
Jesus’ appearance was changed in the presence of a few of his disciples.
Their immediate response – to institutionalize the moment
– to put up structures
King’s palace
God’s temple
Sukkot
– all dwellings that house something sacred

We want to institutionalize the moment
Hang on to the certainly
Hold the experience close
What often binds us is shared experience
The disciples wanted to dwell in the moment

Not long after his appearance was changed, he was hit with the demands and tasks of humanity.

Have you had that experience?
Just came home from a meaningful experience, religious clarity, existential moment?
And you were hit with family conflict, financial demands, stress at work, crisis?

Jesus teaches us that the sacred isn’t something to be housed, but ushered into difficult places where it is needed.

Jesus doesn’t skip a beat, he grants healing and keeps moving.

Jesus was on the move, not clinging to dwelling, but changing hearts and lives in motion.

Our lives take many turns, overcoming obstacles, finding success, moving from one place to the next.
A series of seasons, some wonderful, some painful, some to be savored and some simply to be endured.

But, if we seek to grow in our lives, to grow in our love, our faith and our compassion,
We cant fully find transformation by compartmentalizing our experiences, moving from one season to the next, but by integrating them.

How have the mountain top experiences and deep dark valleys become integrated into our present.
If we build structures around the holy, it can sit there and not affect the rest of our lives.

If we make it through scary times, but don’t seek some sort of reconciliation and healing from the past, we may find ourselves wrestling with the same demons no matter where we go.

Transfiguration is about revelation – a glimpse of Jesus’ true nature, not a moment in time to be preserved, but integrated.

What are you seeking today?
Healing? Peace of mind? Reconciliation? Purpose? Energy to get through? Inspiration?

The living Christ lives within us and breathes in our lives.
Let us seek to integrate the holy moments with the needs, the painful struggles.
Let us seek to care for others in the name of the one who cares for us.

Amen