Transfiguration Sunday, Year A
Lessons: Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9
Theme: God’s faithful and generous people learn from the disciples’ experience at Jesus’ transfiguration that it’s really ALL about change.
Key Scripture: When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus. – Matthew 17:6-8 (The Message)
Preaching/Teaching Reflection
Sometimes I wonder if we get Jesus’ transfiguration all wrong. We take in stride that Jesus suddenly shows up looking more dazzling than Liberace, yet we beat up on Peter and the disciples for their seemingly bumbling attempts to deal with this strange event. I wonder, however, would we really do any differently? DO we really do any differently when confronted by change?
Maybe the point of this lesson for 21st century folk has more to do with fear of change than it does with a Hollywood special effects retelling of this mountaintop moment. (I am thankful to Karoline Lewis of workingpreacher.org for steering my ponderings in this direction.)
Think about it—and be honest. How many of us just LOVE change, are willing to embrace it, hasten to welcome it, and even thrive on it? Of course, there’s always one or two in every crowd who lap up change like a luscious lager or actually use change to fuel their creative gas tanks. They are the exceptions, not the rule. You might even term them odd or weird, because not many humans find change appealing. We are naturally inclined to move toward homeostasis and hang on to it for dear life. We need stability.
Even so, change is really the one constant we have in this life. Think of how our bodies change over time. I know most mornings I’m shocked to see a middle-aged woman staring back at me in the mirror when I fully well expect to see my 30-year-old self. We change jobs several times over the course of our careers, and some of us even make vast vocational shifts. We are a much more mobile society, tearing up roots and moving on average 11.4 times in a lifetime. We experience many major life changes—births, deaths, joys, losses, tragedies, successes. Whether we love it or loath it, change is ever present.
The former English teacher in me (see there’s another change) loves words and their power to convey meaning. One of my favorite words is transmogrify. It’s a kissing cousin or synonym to transfigure, and for some strange reason this word pops up and sticks in my head every time the transfiguration rolls around in the Lectionary.
Check any dictionary, and you’ll see that transfigure means to “transform into something more beautiful or elevated.” The word has a respectable etymological pedigree: Middle English, from Old French transfigurer or Latin transfigurare, from trans- ‘across’ + figura ‘figure’. Aside from this story of Jesus, one might imagine the how a lowly caterpillar is transfigured to become a stunning butterfly.
Transmogrify, on the other hand, is not quite as lofty a word. Yes, it still means to transform, especially in a surprising or magical manner, sometimes humorous or even a bit vulgar. It’s origins are sketchy, too, first coming into the English language during the 17th century, and being of uncertain origin. The best example I can offer is found in a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon, where Calvin’s corrugated cardboard box transmogrifier “turns you into whatever you want to be.” Imagine putting a cucumber in a box and then pulling out a jar of pickles.
If you’re wondering about the word play, stay with me for a bit. I’ll get back to it.
Change stymies most of us. Our natural inclination is to want to dig in and hang on for dear life. Peter wanted to build structures to hang on to the moment, but Jesus says no.
Then the voice of God thunders down from a cloud, tells the disciples to listen, and they fall face-down in terror. Not just afraid, mind you, but completely shaken stem from stern. Don’t be terrified, Jesus says. He says this quite often, you know, and we need to hear those words today.
Yep. Change is all around us, and a lot of it is downright terrifying. The question is how are we going to deal with it? Will we expect the magical, fantastic change of transmogrification? Or, will we be willing to persist and accept the hard, slow, life-giving change of transfiguration?
Jesus knew what he was up against, and it wasn’t pretty. He knows what we’re up against, too. The good news is that he will not leave us. We are not alone.
Change is constant, but dear friends to not be terrified. Don’t fall to the ground. Instead, get up and get going. No matter whether you’re feeling more like being transmogrified or transfigured, or whether you’d really rather not change at all, be of good cheer. God is doing a new thing, and we are part of it.
In Worship
Think about the changes your faith community has endured throughout its lifespan. How many pastors have served your congregation? How many generations have warmed the pews? Have you had any major building projects or relocations? What about conflict? What changes have been good ones? What changes do you mourn? Consider giving worshipers a little time to reflect with others about the changes that terrify or dismay them and those that have ultimately been good for the life and mission of the congregation. You might even write an opening litany that both celebrates and laments some of the changes with the response “We will not be terrified. We will not be dismayed because God is still with us.”
With Youth
How do we listen to God in a world filled with so much noise and so many competing claims on our time and attention? How do we know what is real and what is fake? Is the squeakiest wheel and the loudest voice always the ones that should get our attention?
Peter, James, and John were both overcome and terrified by seeing a glimpse of Jesus as God’s beloved Son. They “knew” in a sense that their rabbi was the Messiah, but they had not seen with their eyes the divine difference. They wanted to stay in the moment–to preserve it forever. The voice of God reminds us that there is something more important than clinging to an idea, image, or vision. We are called to listen to Jesus. How do we do that today? Invite youth to contemplate a prayer discipline for Lent that would encourage them to listen for Jesus. You might wish to teach them to use Lectio Divina as a way of reading scripture and listening for the voice of God in the words, or perhaps you would introduce the Ignatian spiritual practice of the Daily Examen to them. In short, give them something to work with in Lent that will help them listen more fully for God’s voice in their lives. Don’t underestimate the ability of youth to grasp and integrate these ancient practices; they are capable of great surprises and depth when we believe them to be.
With Children
Listen UP!
Give children the examples from the Old Testament reading (Exodus 24:12-18) and the gospel (Matthew 17:1-9) of how God spoke to people in the Bible. Help children understand that God still speaks to us today, but with all the noise in our world, sometimes it is very difficult to listen to God. Teach them a simple listening prayer, such as playing the one minute game. See if the ENTIRE congregation can be quiet and listen to God for one minute. End with a brief prayer of thanksgiving for all the many ways God speaks to us today.
Weekly Stewardship Bulletin Insert
Change is tough and sometimes terrifying: this is truth. As faithful stewards, we know that we are not alone in living through change. God is with us, Jesus loves us, and the Holy Spirit is equipping us and transforming us to help be agents of change.
Stewardship at Home
Learning to listen to God and each other is important for many reasons, including navigating change successfully. Here’s a good review of reflective listening with some exercises that can help you learn to be a better listener, and here are some fun games. Check it out and practice at home.
Photos: Kathleen Dagostino, Robert Couse-Baker, and Marc Gasgoine, Creative Commons. Thanks!)
Note: Reprint rights granted to congregations and other church organizations for local, nonprofit use. Just include this note: “Copyright (c) 2017, Rev. Sharron Blezard. Used by Permission.” Other uses, please inquire: thewritelife@hotmail.com.
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