Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v2Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. As they looked on, a change came over Jesus, v3and his clothes became shining white—whiter than anyone in the world could wash them. v4Then the three disciples saw Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus. v5Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “Teacher, how good it is that we are here! We will make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” v6He and the others were so frightened that he did not know what to say.
v7Then a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my own dear Son—listen to him!” v8They took a quick look around but did not see anyone else; only Jesus was with them.
v9As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from death.” (Mark 9:2-9)
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This Sunday is the last after the Epiphany and the Gospel reading appointed is of the Transfiguration of Jesus in the mountain top. Thus, it is also called Transfiguration Sunday. But the more popular occasion being celebrated it being the 14th of February is Valentine’s Day. Let me share here what I have read regarding the two occasions.
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The Transfiguration. Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan of Yale University wrote a remarkable study of the significance of the person and work of Jesus Christ titled ‘Jesus Through the Centuries’. Dr Pelikan demonstrates how Jesus has been a dominant figure in the history of the Western culture. Each age has made Jesus relevant to its own needs. Jesus has furnished each new age with answers to fundamental questions as every generation has had to address new social problems that tested the more fundamental questions of human existence. The world had to take note of Jesus as a rabbi, as the Cosmic Christ, the Ruler of the World, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, the Son of Man, the True Image of Man, the Great Liberator. In many other ways Jesus furnished the answers and the images that affected society in positive ways.
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Doctor Pelikan’s thesis is that Jesus did not and does not belong to the churches and theologians alone, but that he belongs to the world. None of this is to say that we can make Jesus what we want to him be. Quite the opposite. It is to say that the Christ is adequate for all our needs and that Jesus transcends culture in such a way that he is able to belong to each age and to address the issues of all time. To understand, we can do no better than to look to the Holy Gospel for today, which celebrates the Transfiguration of our Lord. In that momentous event we learn how and why Jesus belongs to the centuries.
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This Sunday also marks the celebration of Valentinus of Rome, St. Valentine we call him. St Valentine was a physician and a member of the clergy during the time of the Roman Empire. We know him as a patron saint of love and marriage. He was best known for his ministry to persecuted Christians allowing them to marry in secret after Emperor Claudius banned marriages during wartime to encourage men to battle. But Valentine was also known as a healer and comforter to the sick, those ill from plague, fainting, epilepsy, and other disorders. He was killed, martyred, on February 14 around the year 270 at the age of 44.
One interesting story about Valentinus had to do with the healing of an aristocrat’s daughter while he was in his custody after his arrest. Father Valentinus told his jailor Asterius “how Christ leads pagans out of the shadow of darkness and into the light of truth and salvation. So Asterius told him, if he could heal his foster daughter from blindness, he would convert. Father Valentinus covered the girl’s eyes with his hands and said, “Lord Jesus Christ, enlighten your handmaid, because you are God, the True Light.” At that the child regained her sight. Asterius and his family were baptized according to their agreement, but when the Emperor heard the news, he ordered them all to be executed. (Reference/Source: eSermons.com)
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The spirit of Transfiguration and Valentine’s Day are in a way connected. A story comes to mind about the monk who would like to sit down with St Theresa on her flight to South America so that he can learn about the heavenly or holy things. St Theresa asked him, “Do you have money for the flight? Then give it to the poor and you will learn more about charity and love – and you will learn more about holiness than I can tell you.” Indeed, the holy and the secular are constantly intermingling. Charity and love brings immeasurable changes within us and among people that surround us. If we look at the world through the eyes of expectant faith, we might discover God in all sorts of unexpected places.
Whether we see it or not, the world is fraught with God’s presence, pregnant with God’s glory. The transfiguration reminds us that we are never far from God. Even when we cannot see it, we are surrounded by the angels of God. Even when we cannot discern it, the shielding grace of God is behind us and before us. Behind the flimsy veil of what we call reality is the eternal, sustaining, strengthening presence of God, not a hair’s breadth away, invisible in the eye but not to the heart.
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We are called to seek out the transfigured Christ in the world, and as we do so, we are called not just to wonder and delight in that presence, but we are also called to listen and to respond with a servant’s heart, humility and love. We are called to listen when our brothers and sisters are suffering, when they are in need, when they are disenfranchised and subject to injustices.
Let us pray.
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.**
