God in Jesus Unveils and Heals

3.2.2025

Transfiguration of Our Lord Sunday

[Texts]

Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm 99

2 Corinthians 3:12—4:2

Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a]

Grace and Peace to you, holy and beloved children of God.

Since the pandemic, most of us have gotten used to hopping on video calls with family and friends, or running events and meetings over Zoom. On Zoom, we can not only see the faces of those we are talking to but also see ourselves. We’ve also gotten used to seeing our own facial expressions as we engage with others on screen.

While I’m not sure about other similar platforms, Zoom allows us to turn off our own camera in two ways: we can choose not to see ourselves while others can still see us, or we can opt to have no one see us, resulting in just a black screen with either our name or profile picture displayed. However, there are two aspects of this that I find inappropriate or unhelpful in a setting where the goal is to get to know each other, strengthen relationships, and nurture and care for one another as we would in person. For people of faith, we often are reminded of the importance of being fully present with one another in every conversation.

In one of the Bible classes I taught on Zoom, I encouraged participants to turn on their cameras so I could see our mutual engagement. For me, seeing a black screen with just a name or a profile picture is like someone walking out of the classroom and leaving a name tag or photo on the desk. It's like saying, "You may talk to my name tag or my photo." That black screen conveys a message of the absence of being seen. It acts as a mask or veil, concealing something unspoken, and it does create barriers to genuine connection and empathy.

Today's texts, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, emphasize how God unveils God’s glory in Moses and in Jesus. God in Jesus removes the barrier, the veil, and wants us to experience genuine connection and empathy from Him. Let's unpack what's in Luke 9 today.

[Context]

On the mountaintop, while Jesus was praying in full communion with his heavenly Father, God's glorious presence was revealed in Jesus. According to Luke's account, as the two great prophets, Moses and Elijah, appeared beside Jesus and discussed his upcoming departure and accomplishment in Jerusalem, Peter thought of a plan. He proposed building three shrines on the mountaintop so they could all remain there to worship. Peter's response has sparked much thought-provoking interpretation in our time regarding the true purpose of being Jesus' disciples.

Just a week before the Transfiguration, as recorded in Luke 9:23-27, Jesus taught about the requirements of discipleship, emphasizing the need to take up one's own cross daily. How could taking up their cross daily on the mountaintop impact the world? And how would the world understand the significance of the three shrines on the mountaintop in relation to God's saving plan? None of them make any sense to the world.

The three shrines (or tents) that Peter suggested building during the Transfiguration (one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah) symbolize the intersection of Jesus' ministry with the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah). This highlights the continuity and fulfillment of God's saving plan.

To the world, this might seem confusing or insignificant. However, for believers, it represents the divine confirmation of Jesus' identity and mission. The voice from the cloud saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him," emphasizes Jesus' authority and the importance of following his teachings.

God's plan is vastly different from Peter's plan. All God asks of us is to listen to Jesus, His anointed and beloved Son. This is God's will, plan, and mission. One prominent interpretation of Peter's plan is that staying on the mountaintop to worship seems more appealing than descending to serve people amidst chaos and challenges.

After being reunited with the rest of the disciples the next day, a man approached Jesus, expressing frustration at his disciples' inability to heal his son. If they were staying on the mountaintop, they wouldn't need to deal with this complaint, would they?

In response, Jesus addressed the situation in front of a great crowd, his disciples, and the man and his son, saying in Luke 9:41, 'You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you?' This is a very direct and challenging statement from Jesus, reflecting his frustration at the lack of faith and understanding of his teachings and miracles.

Did Jesus direct his words to the great crowd, the father and his son, or his own disciples? What are your thoughts? If we consider Jesus' statement relevant today, what if the Spirit of God is addressing us—the Church—right here, right now? It's possible that the father's disbelief contributed to the disciples' inability to cast out the evil spirit from his son. There may also have been misunderstandings among the disciples, preventing the healing. The purpose of healing or miracles is not only to alleviate suffering but also to lead people back to God, to know and love God.

[Challenge]

Since the initial formation of Jesus' way of discipleship in the 1st century, Christians have continually reshaped, reinterpreted, or reinvented it. After confessing their faith and receiving the gift of baptism, individuals embark on their faith journeys in various ways. Some, like Peter’s plan, choose to worship on the mountaintop, figuratively speaking, without coming down. Others may struggle with disbelief at certain points in their lives. Some choose to complain about Jesus' disciples, while others wait for the next miracle or healing to see if God truly cares. Some remain anonymous in the crowd, while others, figuratively speaking, come down from the mountaintop to live out the discipleship Jesus taught in the 1st century.

God unveils God-Self in Jesus to show His immense love and care for us. God wants us to know that God is with us through Jesus. How have we been unmasking ourselves before God? How can we unmask our own disbelief and misunderstandings that remain unspoken or hidden, muted or covered like the black screen on ZOOM? This leads me to ponder whether our reluctance to reveal ourselves as people of faith to the world reduces the opportunities for others to know God through Jesus.

[Good News]

In today's world, fostering genuine connections can be challenging, but recognizing the masks we wear and striving to remove them can lead to deeper, more meaningful interactions. Fear forces us to hide. Hate forces us to fight. By being vulnerable and open, we can bridge the gaps that separate us and cultivate a stronger sense of community and understanding. That’s the purpose of having confession and absolution, unveiling ourselves and being healed. That is what we practice on every Sunday. We are also going to do it even more intentionally in Lent.

When the world uses masks or veils to conceal its fear or hate, people of faith in Christ choose to follow Jesus who always brings out the best in us, which I shared last Sunday. We no longer live for ourselves with an 'I-focus' mentality but embrace a 'Jesus Christ-focus' life. As St. Paul says in Galatians 2:20, we no longer live but Christ lives in us.

As we begin the 40 days of Lent on Wednesday, along with the six Sundays, let us journey together in learning to embrace the ashes of our mortality, preparing to rise like butterflies into a transformed and renewed life. Without death, there can be no resurrection on Easter. Jesus did it for us. By grace through faith, so will we!

Amen