Matthew 17:1-8
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
It’s easy to focus on Peter in this story. His reaction to the transfiguration – where Jesus is transformed in front of his disciples so that his face shines like the sun, his clothes are dazzling white, and he is suddenly accompanied by Moses and Elijah – Peter’s reaction to all this seems so, well, “Petrine” – that is, so characteristic of Peter! The prototypical extrovert, he can’t just take it all in but needs to do say something, to do something, to offer something, and so he suggests that he can build Jesus and these two patriarchs booths, or what is translated here as “dwellings.” As if he thinks they came for a weekend camping trip in the mountains!
But actually Peter’s response is quite appropriate. According to Jewish tradition, you see, God was supposed to inaugurate the anticipated “Day of the Lord” during the Feast of Booths (see Zechariah 14:16-21). And so when Peter sees his Lord transformed and now accompanied by the representatives of the law and prophets, he makes the connection to this ancient prophesy and tries to take his place amid its drama.
So Peter isn’t mistaken. Nor, however, is he the chief actor in this scene. God is. For the purpose of the transfiguration isn’t simply to invite us too quickly into a divine script we think we already know, but rather to grab Peter’s – and our – attention as the divine drama plays out in front of us in ways we would never expect. Keep in mind that in the previous scene Peter had just rebuked Jesus for articulating a vision of God’s messiah that is not about a conquering hero but rather a suffering servant. And now God confirms Jesus’ mission, vision, and mandate by surrounding him with Moses and Elijah and instructing the disciples quite clearly: “Listen to him.”
Listen to him. Watch, that is, what he does. Listen to what he says. Follow him and pay attention to all that happens because here is where you will see the salvation of humankind coming in a way neither you nor anyone else expected.
Listen to him. God’s advice to Peter…and to us.
Prayer: Dear God, draw our eyes again and again back to your Son that we might see your mercy, goodness, and love made manifest in his vulnerability. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Recent Comments