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. - Luke 9:28-36
I’ve always wondered about the transfiguration. If you’ve read here in the past, you may have noticed that I have a tendency to imagine myself in the stories that I read - a practice called Ignatian Bible contemplation (which I now have a name for, though I’ve been practicing it for quite a while).
Ignatius suggests that as we place ourselves in a Biblical story, we try to imagine what we might see, smell, feel, and hear, and what the other persons in the scene might be doing. Always, Ignatius says, at each point in this contemplative exercise, we must “try to draw some practical fruit from the reflection for our own life today." [1] We need to ask ourselves what difference it makes in our everyday lives that we have encountered God through this Scripture passage. One way to do this is to focus on the words of Jesus and consider the ways our lives would be changed if we heard Jesus say those words to us. - Lynne Baab
In today’s passage, I find myself wondering about the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. We’re told that they were speaking of Jesus’ departure. But we’re also told that those who were witnesses to the story were really sleepy. Perhaps they had nodded off now and again so we don’t get a lot of detail. Was it a long conversation between the three of them? A short one? Did they talk about anything else, or was it straight to the point? Was it words of comfort or wisdom from one who had left the earth through normal human means and one who had been carried to heaven without seeing death (2 Kings 2:11)? And why these two? Was it because they were the representation of the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah)? Did the disciples know who they were immediately? As you can see, I find myself with a lot of questions, but as I ask them I find additional meaning in the story beyond just what I read initially.
What I do know is that Jesus’ transfiguration happened as he was praying. While we probably won’t find ourselves outwardly transformed in a visual way when we pray, we are transformed in a way that others can sense. It could be a feeling of peace that we exude, or a sense of lightness. We are also transformed inwardly. “By prayer we fetch in the wisdom, grace, and joy” (Matthew Henry) It’s how we learn to lean on God’s grace and providence, how we learn to love and be loved by God, how we deepen and lean into our relationship with him.
What difference does this make in my life today? I remember that it’s in spending time with God that I see miraculous things. I don’t have to be perfect to be able to be a part of his plans - even the disciples were heavy with sleep but still allowed to bear witness. And finally, my own changes start with prayer.
May you see and feel the transfiguring power of prayer today. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)