Lent 2
The classical sermon for today would draw a clear analogy between two mountains. First is the Mount Tabor from today’s Gospel, the Mount where Jesus’ glory has been revealed. The second Mount, towards which Jesus’ life is directed and the liturgy of the Lent will point to, is the Golgotha. The analogy is quite oblivious and certainly the authors of the Gospels wanted us to have both pictures in front of our eyes or imagination.
Here on the Mount Tabor Christ is revealed in his magnificence, there on the Golgotha Jesus is humiliated...
Here Jesus Christ is covered in light, there is naked. Here Jesus is with Moses and Elijah; there Jesus will be with two criminals...
Here, we have a bright cloud; there will be darkness in the middle of the day...
Here a voice of God is declaring Jesus as his son, there the heaven will be silent and only a pagan mercenary will declare that the man on the cross was truly the son of God...
Are you now convinced that both stories, both mounts are put together by the authors of the Gospel in order to inspire your imagination? In the time of euphoria, think that there will be also difficult moments in your life of faith. But also in the time of dark suffering, in a spiritual tunnel, do believe in the light at its end...
Now, I should say Amen, but I will not. At point I would like to share with you my own reading of the Gospel.
I have only one point to make today. Why Peter, James and John, the three apostles who witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration did not keep this experience to themselves? Why did they tell about their ‘private’ vision to other people? I believe that Peter, James and John did not want to keep this story as 'private memory', if so, the church would become an exclusive club. Peter, James and John, wanted to tell, include as many people as possible into their faith, their understanding of Christ, their understanding of salvation. So the same wanted the apostles. They all wanted to share the story about Transfiguration, about they faith in God’s son reviled in Jesus.
Lent offers us a special time of closeness to Jesus of Nazareth, for us Christians, Christ who is about to become a Suffering Servant of the Lord. But also Lent is the time allowing us to refresh our faith and our understanding of faith. Let’s be active, let’s clime this mountain, make an effort to get out from routines paths of Galilee, and walk up to a new encounter with Christ, with God, with Moses and Elijah that is with the Scriptures, but also with one another, as Peter, James and John. Then, please don’t be silent but proclaim what you have seen. Write your own 'Gospel' about Jesus Christ in the language that your neighbours can understand.
Revd Dr Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski
St John the Divine
Richmond, Surrey, UK
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