A Moutaintop Experience

Reflections on
Ex 34:29-35,2 Cor 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
Holy Trinity/La Santisima Trinidad 2/7/10

The story of the transformation of Jesus up on the mountaintop is a beautiful and glorious vision. No seems to one know the historical roots of the story- was it a recorded vision or dream that someone had during Jesus’ lifetime, or was it (as many have said) a misplaced post-resurrection story? Or simply a way for the early church to establish, beyond any doubt, Jesus as the beloved son of God? As is often the case in biblical narratives, it might be less important to know the dreamer than to know the dream. And this dream-like story seems to encapsulate the whole of Jesus ministry, from his baptism to his resurrection. It is as if, on this high mountaintop, Jesus can finally see clearly- can finally see the whole of his life and the whole of his destiny. The story not only establishes Jesus as the undisputed answer to the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament (symbolized by the great prophet, Elijah and the great law-giver Moses) but it also again highlights in a dramatic contrast to Jesus’ glory, the cluelessness of the disciples, particularly Peter, who can’t seem to stand the magnificence before him.

In fact, for all its astounding radiance, it seems like the transfiguration doesn’t even make much of an impression on the disciples- they can barely keep awake, Peter babbles about a building project, and none of them ever mention it in any of their preaching again. Even their terror does not seem to make a lasting impression- when the cloud began to engulf them we hear that they are terrified. But after the whole ordeal is over, they remain silent. They do not ask their teacher about what has occurred, and they tell no one.

The Old Testament roots of this story are deep and wide, particularly in the stories of Moses. Jesus is seen shining like the sun up on the mountaintop, just like Moses after he spoke to God. Moses and Elijah speak to Jesus of his departure- and the Greek word Ex-hodus- Exodus, literally “the road out” is used- apparently a reference to the exodus of Moses. And even Peter’s strange construction plans (what was he thinking?) come from Leviticus (Leviticus 23:42-43) -the dictate of the Lord to “take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook and You shall live in booths seven days” … in recognition of the end of the wandering in the wilderness.

The disciples, as usual, are still in the wilderness, not only missing out on the significance of the astonishing image before them, but later, unable to cure the poor epileptic boy who Jesus, exasperated at their incompetence, later makes whole.

There are several elements of the story that recall the Book of Daniel, where “One like a Son of man came on clouds of glory to the Ancient of Days, who wore clothing that was as white as snow.” He is given “dominion, and glory, and kingship, that all peoples, nations and languages shall serve him.” So it seems that these references to Daniel are another affirmation of Jesus as having dominion over everything- even the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus moves from his mountaintop experience, shining like the sun, to the inevitable use of that radiance, to do a great act of love- the healing of the epileptic. The convulsed boy, silent, helpless, a victim of a demon, is the polar opposite of Jesus in his glory. Standing upright high on a mountain, Jesus is affirmed by God and the prophets, literally glowing with health and holiness. Jesus is able to transfer some of that glory to the child and do the miraculous- to cure the father’s only son. It is as if Jesus shining health is contagious. And the crowd seem to see the glory of a different kind of transfiguration- the boy is made whole- they do see “the greatness of God” and are astounded by it. Nevertheless, Jesus’ shows surprising anger, apparently at the crowd, echoing what he has said in earlier passages about this “faithless and perverse generation.” Perhaps he is predicting the betrayal and death that is to come. And once again, there is an echo of Moses, who lamented in very similar words over the faithlessness of Israel in Deuteronomy.

Jesus, who is, as always, infused with love, can cure anyone’s demons, can love even the exasperating disciples, can glow like the sun. So God the mother points out with similar exasperation, this is my son LISTEN TO HIM!

We find in the Old Testament, in Leviticus, “love your neighbor as yourself.”
And of course in Deuteronomy we find “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your might. You will even find, in the Old Testament, something close to “love your enemies.” But the Old Testament phrase, found in proverbs, does not go so far as to urge us to literally love our enemies. Proverbs 25 says that if your enemy is hungry, give him bread, if he is thirsty, give him drink.

Jesus has found the thing, exhumed it from his own ancient scriptures, that transcends the Law and the Prophets, and that is love. Moses leads his people out of slavery and into the promise land. Jesus leads his people out of sin- out of hatred and vice into compassion, forgiveness and love. Jesus offers perfect freedom, and love is the child of that freedom.

The obliviousness of the disciples to Jesus shimmering transfiguration makes me wonder how often WE miss the blindingly beautiful miracles that happen right before our eyes- how often we almost sleep through bright epiphanies that surround US.

WE MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH the OLD TESTAMENT in our own lives today. And all the elements of the Old Testament may have made up our past lives. Warring against our kin or foreign tribes, slavery to one or another thing, endless wandering in the wilderness.

But on this Valentine’s day we may suddenly begin to realize that we have found the promise land. Even as we struggle to emerge from the Old Testaments of our lives, we might find ourselves changed, transfigured by feelings of love. And if we start to get those feelings, let’s try not to ignore the glory, as Peter did. Let’s not try to put it in boxes or start a building project. Let us be still, say nothing, feel our hearts open, and maybe even feel that glow. Because when we do that, no matter where we are, or what time it is, we are up there on that mountaintop.