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Comin' round the mountain

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Matthew 17:5-9
A bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

The disciples must have thought they were seeing things. Hearing things, too. The cloud talking ... and before that, Elijah and Moses visiting - on the same mountain they're hiking - imagine that!

Jesus is their tie to reality, their handhold to the earth. When they open their frightened eyes, he is right there to comfort them. He is all they see. "Do not be afraid." They are safe with him.

Or are they? This man, so comfortable on the earth, so unafraid of any danger, this man with his feet on the ground walks them down and then tells them he saw the same thing they did, heard what they heard. But it's just another day on Transfiguration Mountain for Jesus.

Not only does Jesus seem at home with all these strange happenings, but he predicts his own death and resurrection. Maybe they didn't hear him right. They did seem to forget what they heard pretty quickly. Jesus might not be exactly down-to-earth, but he's no weirdo either.

Jesus smiles into space as they descend. He knows his friends will be all right. God charges the air around them. The kingdom of heaven is near.

Lord, thank you for letting us participate in your story. Tell us more.



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