Today is the Day of the Transfiguration: Eucharistic Readings for the Transfiguration
Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99: 2 Peter 1:13-21; Luke 9:28-36
“Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.” (Luke 9:28)
As mentioned last Thursday, it was Peter, John and James who Jesus selected to be in his inner circle when serious holiness was to take place. Twelve might be too big a number, especially given that one (Judas) betrayed him. I know it makes a twelve-tribes kind of sense, but perhaps that’s just us trying to balance things in light of the Hebrew testament. In any case, it seems to be that where two or three of us are joined together in His Name, Jesus is with us. That’s still serious holiness for us today. Even as Jesus took two or three with him, we then met by two others. It was always a manageable number.
Can you name two or three people with whom you feel especially close to Christ? Please understand that they may not be relatives or work colleagues or even Church members. But at some level you feel especially safe in their presence.
And maybe you’ve never tried to pray with them, but perhaps you should. The mountain you climb is a spiritual one. You ascend to an upper level where you behold our Lord Jesus in his God-like presence – a holy presence.
When this happens, you too, along with those close to you, will want to hold on to this holy state of grace. You will want to mark it with some sort of landmark as Peter wanted to do so that you may find your way back to it.
It is one thing to experience it alone. However, when you share it with one or two others it validates your sanity, you are not crazy. It really happened! God in Christ Jesus is real!
Ponder about this during your Sabbath time today, and while you are at it, please pray for the safety of Ukraine.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 