Rev. Mary Lautensleger

Transfiguration

The story of the Transfiguration of Jesus brings closure to the season of Epiphany. You will recall that the season begins with the heavens opening and a voice from above proclaiming Jesus as God’s beloved at his baptism. Epiphany concludes with a similar divine revelation as the Heavenly Voice again reveals Jesus as God’s Son, the beloved. Mountain-top experiences, radiant light, and the revelation of God in Jesus Christ permeate all three lessons for the day. 

Veils

The Apostle Paul refers to a veil in today’s epistle lesson: 2 Corinthians 4:3: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”

When I was a child, on Sunday mornings many women wore hats with little veils attached.

Brides have traditionally worn veils in their wedding ceremonies.

Some Bible translations refer to the veil of the temple being torn on Good Friday as Jesus dies.

The mountain is possibly what the Celts referred to as “a thin place,” a place where the veil between heaven and earth is thinner; allowing the barrier between us and the Holy to becomes more permeable.

Paul acknowledges that his message is veiled to those who do not believe.

Rather than a physical veil, Paul is referring to a metaphorical veil. People’s minds have been blinded and they cannot see the light of the gospel, the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Share examples of when a message was veiled.

What kept you from hearing the message?

What caused the veil to be lifted, allowing you to understand?

For Paul, the veil is whatever keeps the unbeliever from seeing the true light of the Gospel of Christ. As the unbeliever comes to faith, the veil is lifted, and God’s glory is visible.Those who have rejected the good news of Christ are running from God. To these persons, the gospel is veiled by their own choice. They have sought worldly gods, and are avoiding the Light of Christ.

Rev. Bryan Jackson

Transfiguration

Jesus made sure his subjects were isolated. Why? Webster’s dictionary defines transfiguration this way: “To transform outwardly and usually for the better.” What, exactly, took place here? Was it an extra-terrestrial event? Did Peter, James and John hallucinate and pass on erroneous information? Could Jesus have done all this in the presence of witnesses?

Peter was dumbfounded and didn’t quite know what to say. What could he say? “Yo, dude, nice colors?” When we witness something that seems incredible, we may change. Today, many conservative Christians speak of conversion—a transformation usually for the better—as a one-time deal. Either he did or he didn’t. She’s “born again” or she isn’t. One may sometimes hear something along the lines of “Ohhh … I’m so glad he finally found Jesus!”

In the words of Forest Gump, “I didn’t know I was supposed to be lookin’ for him, sir.” Christ will find your people, if they’re in the right place. For them to “transform outwardly and usually for the better” will likely happen more than once, and you may be surprised at how little you have to do with it.

When was the last time you experienced transfiguration? They might, if you do. It is the wager of the ordained ministry.

Rev. Dr. Chris Ayers

The Anti-Transfiguration

The transfiguration of Jesus describes a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.  In your anti-transfiguration sermon describe in great and disturbing detail the anti-transfiguration of human bodies:  the change of form or appearance into a horrific state.  Three examples come immediately to mind, but you can expand this list.

Holocaust

Hiroshima

Vietnam (Napalm)

George MacLeod, great Celtic preacher, said that when we dropped the bomb at Hiroshima we took Jesus' body and we took his blood “and enacted a cosmic Golgotha.  We took the key to love and we used it for bloody hell.”  (J. Philip Newell, Listening For the Heartbeat of God, p. 88)

How – how in the light of Jesus’ transfiguration – how in the light of his life and teachings could we engage in such anti-transfiguration actions?

Close your sermon by describing Jesus’ transfigured body and pray for peace, community, brotherhood and sisterhood, and bodies and people that are treated as if they have within them the image of God.