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Second Sunday of Lent
Rev. Elder Aaron Miller
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(Subtitles available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese)
Reading 1: Genesis 12:1-4a
Reading 2: Matthew 17:1-19
Greetings dear friends,
I am Rev. Elder Aaron Miller, the Sr. Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford in Hartford CT USA and I bring you greetings from the Council of Elders, our Moderator, the Governing Board, and MCC Staff.
I was delighted to discover that I would be offering a reflection on the Transfiguration of Jesus. As someone who identifies as transgender, this is perhaps my favorite epiphany in the Bible. And, it is something that resonates deeply with me, given my gender transition led to a transfiguration.
The scripture in Matthew 17:1-9 invites us to imagine us climbing with the disciples Peter, James, and John as they follow Jesus up to the mountaintop. Keep in mind this is late in the gospel and Jesus will soon head toward Jerusalem to face the events of Holy Week.
No one has ever been able to fully explain what actually happened to Jesus during the transfiguration. Unlike Moses, whose face radiated the divine glory as a result of speaking with God on a different mountain--Mt. Sinai (Ex 34:29), Jesus' transfiguration emanates from within. He is physically transfigured and his clothes became radiant. And, in that moment, Jesus revealed his true and authentic self to his closest friends’ (much like ‘coming out’ -- without words) and provided a glimpse of divine glory while confirming his identity as God's Beloved.
The Transfiguration is a moment, like no other, and truly unimaginable in human terms.
Or is it?
Maybe this is possible to imagine…especially if we have experienced God’s presence in some way. As I live my life in truth and with authenticity --- as WHO I am---and after realizing that I, too, am beloved of God, I know this glory now emanates from within me, as well.
Jesus changed physically and even his clothes were changed to dazzling white. I know what it is to ‘dazzle’ --- when blouses became shirts and skirts become pants. It may well be that when we are authentically WHO we are and created to become----that we can fully open to a divine experience of God’s glory. And, yes, DAZZLE!
To quote Toba Beta “When higher beings allow us to see them, that's the very moment we begin to be one of them.” I imagine that Peter, James, and John were forever changed --- even radiating---as Jesus did.
Like those early disciples, we may want to stay on the mountaintop – which is glory-us (glorious). And yet Jesus and the disciples had more to accomplish in the short time remaining. So, down the mountain they went…just as WE must, too.
What sticks with me though---especially in the perilous times we are in----is what God spoke on that mountain. God spoke the same words that were spoken to Jesus’ at his baptism in the Jordan River---at the very beginning of his ministry; God saying "This is my Son, the Beloved; with whom I am well pleased” Only---this time, God adds the directive: “listen to him!"
I believe this has become a ‘clarion call’ for this very ‘moment.’ In Matthew’s gospel, some 5 chapters later, Jesus will be asked by one of the scribes “which commandment is the most important of all?
And Jesus will reply “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus made it crystal clear. The greatest command is to LOVE….LOVE….God, ourselves, and one another.
There were many false prophets during the time of Jesus just as there are today. Honestly, I don’t recognize the Jesus that many Christians speak about. If it is not of love----it is not of God---for God IS love.
Jesus is still speaking today----the question that remains is…. are we listening?
Or are we listening to the love-less and even hateful words that are spoken in his name?
As we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday, my prayer is that we do what God has directed us to do – listen to Jesus. Then let’s to come down the mountain to share his heart and love with the world. I believe this will make us radiant…and who knows…. perhaps even dazzling! May it be so, Amen.
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