The Transfiguration

Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration, and in today’s Gospel St. Luke tells us:

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.  (Lk. 9: 26-38).

The event of the Transfiguration is also recorded in Matthew (17:1-8) and in Mark (9:2-8); however, not in John.  One might wonder why it is not recorded in John’s Gospel since Matthew, Mark and Luke all say that John was present?  It might be because much of John’s Gospel is about the Transfiguration. 

The Transfiguration is the manifestation of the glory of God in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.   John’s Gospel begins with the Word being God, and that the very Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.  Jesus’ divine glory constantly manifests itself in John’s Gospel while in the other Gospel accounts, the disciples are slow to recognize who is really is that they are following. 

In today’s Gospel account, we read that Moses and Elijah are on either side of Jesus.  Moses, the great law giver, represents the Law (the Commandments), the first five books of the Old Testament.  Elijah, the greatest of the prophets,  represents all of the prophets which we find in the second part of the Old Testament. In his public ministry, Jesus often referred to the Law and the Prophets, that is, the Old Testament.  The Word became flesh to dwell among us; God himself comes to us as we are, human, and he comes to fulfill all of the Law and the Prophets.  Now you and I are to give witness about the glory of the Incarnation, God with us as one of us.

Let us pray:  O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Art Class with Lee Runion, Friday evening, 10 August and then continuing on Saturday, 11 August.  The class will be making “yard bugs!”

Seaside Seniors, Thursday, 16 August in Sutton Hall.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine will be celebrated on Sunday, 26 August starting with Eucharist Rite II at 9 a.m. and a luncheon after the service. 

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially, Lee Runion’s mother, Steve, Gladys, in thanksgiving for a generous gift to the Discretionary Fund, and for all of those who are travelling.

The Son of God did not want to be seen and found in heaven. Therefore he descended from heaven into this humility and came to us in our flesh, laid himself into the womb of his mother and into the manger and went on to the cross. This was the ladder that he placed on earth so that we might ascend to God on it. This is the way you must take. —Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550