God our creator who goes before us
You draw us forward in faith
Like a pillar of fire across deserts
A rock of assurance
As we journey
Speak to us with your words of comfort and wisdom.
Song “The Lords my shepherd”
God of love and forgiveness
Save us by your tenderness
From each deed that is destructive
From each act that grieves you
From each thought that is careless
From each idea that is unloving
From each word that hurts.
Help us to face up to your call on our lives, by creating love and
goodness, community, society where it has been broken. In Jesus Name Amen.
The Lords Prayer in our own language
Reflection on Luke 9:28-36
It is rare to do more than catch a glimpse of God.
Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi, along with Jesus' first prediction of his death and resurrection and teaching on cross-bearing discipleship is followed some eight days later by Jesus' transfiguration. Two Old Testament themes are used to draw out the significance of the transfiguration:
i) The Son of man in Daniel (shining face, sleep, Elijah. Dan.10:8f);
ii)God appearing to Moses on Mount Sinai (shining face, booths, cloud, and the presence of Moses. Ex.13:20f).
It was difficult even then to pray in the middle of the city so they went to a quieter place. As Jesus was prayin, (prayer leads to transformation!), there was a bright light like a flash of lightening, a dazzling white. Moses encountered God after 40 days of fasting and praying and his face shone. The white robes remind us of the white robes of the martyrs in the Book of Revelation and of angels. (There were also two men as at Jesus' resurrection). The arrival of Moses and Elijah, tells us that Jesus is Christ the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets.
The disciples were very sleepy. They woke up to share in the experience. We find the connection with this half-waking sleeping state and visions. As the shiny men were leaving, Peter wanted to preserve the moment with the building of three shelters or booths (like the feast of Tabernacles). It is good for us that we are here he says. The shelters, tents, tabernacles add to the Exodus theme. But he did not know what he was saying. Peter's fear led to his desire to preserve the glory of the moment rather than allow the journey to continue. How often do we do this! Peters words hastened the end of the experience and a cloud enveloped them like the cloud covering the tabernacle in Exodus and they were afraid as they entered it. The words are heard “This is my Son- whom I have chosen, listen to him”, also the words at Jesus' baptism. Suddenly Jesus was alone. They are pointed to the experience of the cross, and suffering which is the traditional lot of prophets. The journey to Jerusalem continues, amid its dust and chaos and the disciples kept this to themselves.
There are those who tell me that they can see auras around people which tell you about them, their spiritual disposition, their state of health. Some painters would depict people especially holy people with such auras (El Greco for example). Jesus received such an input of Gods energy that he shone.
It may be that some of us are lucky enough to have such a mountain experience and it will show in our faces. What is certain is that it will pass. They had gone away to pray. Prayer does not guarantee such an experience although strange things may happen to us on the way to prayer. We may be transformed! And this will encourage us on our journey. We need to pray. We need to be transformed. Amen
Our prayers for our world, our communities and our families.
Song “Be thou my vision”
Loving God help us to follow you
Into a place of quietness,
Where we may face beasts and wilderness
But we will know the presence of angels
Even in the desert times. Amen.
