becoming a church of transfiguration

Living the life of Christ by living into the Transfiguration

About eight days after this conversation he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up into the hills to pray. And while he was praying the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there were two men talking with him; these were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, the destiny he was to fulfil in Jerusalem. 

(Luke 9:28-31, New English Bible)

We seek to live into the fullness of life, becoming transformed into the image of God.

In this way, we live the life of Christ, for he is the living image of the invisible God.

In the Old Testament reading for the feast of the Transfiguration (Exodus 34:29-35) Moses is on the mountain. The glory of the Lord on the mountain was shining on Moses’ face, but the end was veiled, the goal obscured, the destiny incomplete: the purpose was not yet fulfilled.

In the Gospel (Luke 9:28-36) we encounter Jesus shining, and the veil removed: the telos (end, goal, destiny) is manifest in his transfiguration – and ours.

God’s purpose is revealed: in Christ the reconciliation of all things to himself (Col 1:20).

Jesus discloses that he must go down the mountain to his exodos (departure, death) from Jerusalem. His glorification is complete when he is crucified, died, raised, and ascends.

Crucifixion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension: these mark the mystery of Christ we live.

We the disciples are left to carry on his ministry as agents of the reconciliation God accomplishes through Christ.

The goal of God’s relationship with his people is the transformation of all people into the image of God.  

May we be transfigured so that we may reflect his glory.

JRL+ 

“the goal of all religious practice, transformation into the image of God” (Pheme Perkins, Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 1, Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009, 451.)