The
epiphany we celebrate today is glorious, the epiphany of the transfiguration -
the revealing of Jesus’ humanity in glory! Jesus goes to a mountain and makes
it holy by what is revealed. He reveals His hidden glory to 3 disciples told to
be witnesses; only, keep this revelation hidden until after the crucifixion, he
says. After I’m victorious over the darkest place, then you declare my
transfiguration, says Jesus. After all, one day believers will know the glory
that follows the cross. Until then, like the crucifixion, much of life is dark.
Winter clouds dim the sun, aging takes the light from our eyes, and dark hearts
withdraw into our own little worlds.
We’re tempted to forget what is promised, what is hidden under our
trials. We hear the sun still shines above the clouds but we want to reply, the
only thing sure is death and taxes. Oh no, Christians, we know there is more -
there is something more certain. Consider God’s word spoken upon mountains made
holy by that word: There’s Mt.
Transfiguration Mt. Sinai Mt. Golgotha
These mountains were sanctified by the
Holy One, the Son of God, who revealed Himself to take us to the highest mount,
Mount Zion
We share something in common with the
disciples. We too are pilgrims without an abiding place in the world, as the
God-breathed book of Hebrews reminds us. We’re like Abraham; our pilgrimage is
not a tourist trip to luxurious resorts for the world wears the futility of
sin. It rebels against the Life-giving God. So Christian, your faith is
despised by the world. Why did the US Department of Health and Human Services
require religious organizations to provide insurance coverage that includes
abortifacients? Last year two owners of Levi Strauss donated $16 million
dollars to the University
of California Berkeley
He overcame this world, the one of
depravity, blindness, self-destruction, futility and hopelessness. That
includes your sin as well. The Son of God made man overcame. He won the battle,
our battle against God. In the battle against the world do not trust your arm
as you battle sin in you. Listen to the Word: “There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rm 8:1). And “I can do all
things in Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:14 ). He who overcame the world did so by forgiving our
sin. Then He joined us to His death to unite us to His life. Despite the
devil’s temptations, despite sin in us, despite the world, Christ won. To spite
our enemies, you sinner are declared righteous, saved by grace.
Apart from anything you or I do, apart
from anyone but the Glorious One, we have been saved by Christ’s peace, peace
with God. And that peace gives countless
benefits. For example, we have a foretaste of the transfiguration. Even now
Christ lives in us. That’s why James,
breathing out God’s word, could say: “Resist the devil and he will flee from
you” (Jas 4:7). He flees, not due to
your strength, but when you call upon your Lord. Though the fight wearies us,
tempting us to give into its relentless pressures, nevertheless, Christ
overcame sin, death and the devil. Despite the darkness of this life, Christ
crucified conquered the dark. So
Christian, we are not called to permanently withdraw to a mountaintop alone.
The hermits of past ages but ran away from their true vocations in the
valleys. Nor should we wish to escape
trials, to be a billionaire with a chef, a personal trainer, a masseuse, and a
therapist who daily says “you’re great!”
Rather, since Christ lives in us, we
prayerfully carry out our vocations, troubles and all, following the Son of God
who humbled Himself to become man. We have a Saviour who entered our
afflictions and grief, who dying, rose to share the spoils of his victory with
us. He gave signs of good will and a future in Him, such as in the
transfiguration. He gave signs bestowing glorious promises. For you received
His invisible power and glory in holy baptism; by the visible sign of water and
the word, this is what you are promised: When
God our Savior appeared, he saved us… according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and
renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus
Christ our Savior… that we might become heirs according to the hope of
eternal life (Titus 3:4-7).
What glory! Your sins are forgiven,
and you received the Holy Spirit and the presence of Christ to sanctify. As
God’s presence made Mt.
Sinai
That’s why the transfiguration was
kept hidden until after the crucifixion. It was hidden due to our sinful quest
for wrong-headed glory, the crown without a cross. After all, the
transfiguration was our Saviour’s preparation to die. For the Lord of glory
became flesh for us, in a transfiguration of humility. God’s Son, the bright
Morning Star became the sacrificial Lamb so that the promises of His
transfiguration are yours. This glory is hidden in you oh Christian, Christ
living in you, so that you daily die to sin and rise to life everlasting. One
day the Glory shall be revealed. Even as Jesus’ humanity shone upon the Mount
of Transfiguration, the fullness of Baptism’s promises will be manifest.
Remember that in this earthly pilgrimage: heaven’s glory is hidden in you, so
that like Christ, we humble ourselves to serve our neighbor. Our Lord’s resurrection power is hidden in
you, that we share the unveiled glory of His cross with those who dwell in
darkness.
So the pilgrim church goes to every
tribe, nation and tongue baptizing and making disciples, teaching all that
Christ taught. Those sent go in hope, bearing the glory of God hidden under
weakness, declaring the forgiveness of sins that opens the brilliance of
heaven. You too are called to glory, told that the devil, the world, and your
sinful flesh will not triumph over the love of God in Christ Jesus for you. You
were joined to Christ’s death so that the day your body dies you enter
resurrection life, awaiting Christ return for the resurrection of the body. You
have this promise from Holy Scripture, including the record of Moses and
Elijah, in brilliant bodies shining, and speaking of Jesus’ soon departure. These two saints were sinners like us. Now
they in glory shine. As the Lord kept them He keeps you and me until our
wonderful arrival. We are pilgrims of the cross, who walk toward our
transfiguration when our lowly bodies will become like the Christ’s glorious body.
Meanwhile, His hidden glory abides in us, we who live by faith. We who confess
our sins are forgiven, and our lives are set apart for holy things. We shall be
completed by what is revealed, when Jesus reveals His hidden glory. This we
know because Jesus conquered the darkest place. We too shall shine; God’s holy
people upon the highest mount named Zion
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