Saturday, February 6, 2016

How Good, Lord, to Be Here!


The last Sunday of Epiphany is Transfiguration Sunday.  We always read of Jesus' brilliant manifestation on the mountaintop and God's booming voice of belovedness and direction.

And, as with Mardi Gras in Mobile right now, and with Simon Peter's impetuousness, we are tempted to think "How good, Lord, to be here." Let's just stay here partying forever.  Let's set up a dwelling place here on the mountain far away from our daily responsibilities and chores. After all, the view from here is so lovely.

But, Jesus didn't stay on the mountain.  He came down into the valley where a desperate father begged for healing for his son.  The disciples (the nine who were not invited to the mountaintop) had not been able to help.  Jesus did heal that son "and gave him back to his father." 

Maybe that is what Lent can be for us.  We need healing.  We need our illusions shattered.  We need to be projected into the messiness of everyday life where God meets us and transfigures our lives. We, like the disciples, need our inability transformed in to ability by our surrender to God's will and grace for our lives.  It is worth pondering: what part of our hearts needs to be healed "and returned to The Father?"  

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