Just a month ago on February 2nd, a most unconventional meteorologist gave a forecast. Maybe you saw or heard the weather forecast from Punxsutawney Phil, or Jimmy the Groundhog. Well, the last name gives away some of the clue to who these guys are. They are the prognosticators or predictors of an early spring, helping us to acknowledge that the seasons of the year are changing.
We are looking forward to the end of winter and the beginning of spring. We long for the return of the sun, green growing plants and warmer temperatures. In most winter seasons, spring can’t come soon enough.
We HOPE that warmer weather is coming soon for it brings the changes we are ready for and long for. Some of us have visions of gardens teaming with flowers or vegetables, birds visiting the birdhouses or sitting on the lakeshore watching the summer sun setting. Yes, hopeful visions of long, lazy summer days and nights.
“Unless the people have vision, they perish.” Wise words from Proverbs 29:18 that speak of hope. St. Paul mentions hope in today’s Epistle reading, “Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with complete boldness.”
We as people of faith need to have hope. Hope that all will be well, that God will be there for us. Throughout the pages of Scripture we hear this promise especially in Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know well the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jesus, too, gives us that hope-filled vision of a better future. One filled with his glory.
Jesus gives a gift to his disciples and to us. This gift is a life-giving vision of future glory. We need this gift especially in the dark times in our lives when despair surrounds us. Without this hope-filled vision of a better future we can easily lose our way and perish.
We need to know that our fragile life filled with challenges and tragedies is offset by the hidden glory of Jesus’ gift which will be revealed to us in God’s good time. We only need to trust in the timing.
The Transfiguration stands between the time after Epiphany when we are celebrating the coming of Jesus, the babe born in the manger, the One sent into the world to proclaim the Good News, the beloved of God and the season of Lent.
Beginning with Ash Wednesday, when we remember most vividly that we are mere mortals, here for a short time, lacking in holiness and wholeness and still searching and seeking for a way to fill that empty hole in our being.
The truth that we are dust of the earth and finite beings utterly dependent on God helps us maintain a sense of humility and this reality is brought front and center on Ash Wednesday.
However, today we are not yet in the season of Lent. So, let’s focus on Jesus and what this event we know as the Transfiguration might have to say to us today. You know that I like to sometimes break open the meaning of words.
Today is no different. Some meanings of the word “trans” is "across, beyond, or over.” The meaning that speaks the greatest to me is “Beyond”. Notice today’s reading is called the Transfiguration not the Transformation.
Some might consider these words "transfigure” and “transform” interchangeably, but while they are similar it is helpful to look at both words. To be transfigured is to be changed in outward figure or appearance, to go “beyond” what is seen.
Jesus’ transfiguration does not alter who he is but gives to those who see him a new way of seeing. Their vantage point is changed. They have a new understanding of him because they see him outwardly in a different light.
Transformation on the other hand means “going beyond” the form, here meaning physical form, the internal structure.
Jesus on the mountain with Moses and Elijah is not transformed (changed inwardly or structurally in form) but transfigured before his disciples (shown to be other than what they had previously seen). He is not made to have a new self but to have an appearance that is reminiscent of the two greatest prophets of the Old Testament.
Our text goes on to say that God’s voice is heard by the disciples, “This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him.” Remember that at Jesus’ baptism we heard these same words, back at the beginning of his ministry. Only this time, the voice adds an important command to the statement. This time, God says, “Listen to him!” God doesn’t say, “listen to me,” but “listen to him.” meaning Jesus, his Son.
Listen to Jesus. Pay attention to what he’s saying, even when it doesn’t make sense to you. Listen to him when you might not like what you’re hearing. Listen to him even if you have other plans. Listen to him even if you think you know better. Listen to him when he tells you that you will have sorrows, woes and even death.
Listen to him when he tells you that he will suffer betrayal, rejection and a shameful death but he will rise in glory and pave a way for you to do the same. Listen to him because he is God’s chosen and beloved Son, and with whom God is well pleased. Jesus is the answer to a future filled with hope.
This Lenten season, once again, is a time for us to take time to grow closer to God. We should take the time to become more aware of why we have decided to follow Jesus. Lent is a time to take a good, hard look inside our hearts to see what is keeping us from becoming all that God created us to be.
We need to set aside our own wants and desires, to repent of the noise of the world that comes between us and our ever-loving God. Lent is a time to recommit ourselves to Jesus, to seek him with all our might. Setting aside a time for daily prayer, scripture reading and contemplation are tried and true ways of spiritual growth.
For some, Lent is a time of fasting or giving up something. A few years ago,Pope Francis offered some thoughts on how one might fast during Lent:
Fast from hurting words and say kind words
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude
Fast from anger and be filled with patience
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope
Fast from worries and have trust in God
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity
Fast from pressures and be prayerful
Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others
Fast from grudges and be reconciled
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen
Lent is a time, a change in season so to speak, when we decide once again that, we have decided to follow Jesus, the transfigured one. And in doing so we have been changed, we have been transformed.
We have gone “beyond” the broken, sinful creatures that we are due to our human, soil bound, dusty beginnings to new creations in Christ. Lent is a time to focus our attention on becoming all that God has created us to be.
In these few days before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, let’s focus our eyes, our attention on the brilliant face and figure of Jesus so that he becomes our everlasting guiding light. His light shines brightly, showing his glory, guiding us to an everlasting future.
Blessings on your day.
Notes: Preached (Delivered) March 2, 2025 Trinity Lutheran Church Falun, Wisconsin and Bethany Lutheran Church, Grantsburg, Wisconsin
Trinity Sunday Year C Readings: Exodus 34:29-35 Psalm 99 2Corinthians 3:12-42 Luke 9:28-43a