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TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY

Our lessons-all three-reflect in their time and place the theme of transfiguration. A sharing on the each of these passages as their offer glimpses of illumination within mystery will help the listening community to appreciate this unique day on the Church calendar. The first lesson is the story of Elijah’s "transfiguration" while the second lesson provides a teaching on the icon notion of God’s image in Christ and in us; the gospel lesson recalls the story that converges the past and distant past together on a high mountain of transfiguration. Enjoy.

2 Kings 2:1-12-Shadowing Power

In this familiar story Elijah is about to embark on an exotic leave-taking to heaven while his protégé Elisha remains behind to become the preeminent prophet of (northern) Israel. The narrator sets the context: "the time came for the LORD to take Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind" (2:1). What happens throughout the story is what we might be called today as shadowing-Elisha never venturing far from his mentor. The story includes premonitions of the legendary prophet’s departure announced by the prophets in Bethel, Jericho, and probably by the fifty prophets who followed the two to the Jordan River. Before final departure Elisha is invited to ask one final request which will ensure that the prophetic legacy will continue through Elisha.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6-Icons Reflecting the Divine

In defense of the gospel that he preaches, Paul asserts that his Kerygma reveals the very image of God in Christ. Christ is the image of God in the unique sense that in him God is most fully revealed; God’s doxa or glory is revealed through God’s gracious action toward us. We, Paul teaches, are transformed through the Christ into the divine image for which we are created (2 Cor. 3:18 vis-à-vis Genesis 1:26).

Mark 9:2-9-Place of Mystery

We’re at the place of divine mystery and revelation, "a high mountain," as Mark calls it. In such rarefied air Jesus is transfigured before his three disciples. The event includes the additional appearances of Elijah whom we meet in the first lesson, and Moses the lawgiver and sea-divider. So we have a convergence of time and space on a high mountain where other worldly occurrences shock the disciples and especially Peter who wants to offer worship before such mystery. "We will make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah," he says. All activity is cut short and silent with the words that we heard at the beginning of Mark’s gospel: "This is my own dear Son-listen to him!"