Friday, August 6, 2004
Fish, Wine, and Oil Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ
3rd of Transfiguration: 1 Kings 19:3-9, 11-13, 15-16 Epistle: 2 Peter 1:10-19
Gospel: St. Matthew 17:1-9
3-9, 11-13, 15-16 LXX (1 Kings MT), especially vs. 13:
"And it came to pass when Elijah heard that, he wrapt his face in his mantle, and went forth and
stood in the cave; and behold a voice came to him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"
Both the experience of the Disciples on Mount Tabor and Elijah's encounter with God on Mt.
Horeb functioned as moments of consciousness-raising. This truth becomes especially obvious
as one reflects on the question which God posed twice to the Prophet, "What doest thou here?"
(vss. 9,13). Witness first that Elijah made virtually the identical answer to the question both
times he was probed by God (vss. 10,14). Second, the answer the Prophet gave God better
answers the question, 'What led you to come here?' The Divine question addressed to Elijah, in
effect leads to the related question: 'Now that you are here, what are you going to do here?'
Who can doubt that God perfectly well knew what brought Elijah to Mt. Horeb? The Prophet's
motivation for going so many days' journey into the Sinai wilderness to Mt Horeb plainly was
fear for his life (vs. 3). Besides, as verses 10 and 14 show, even Elijah understood that he was
driven by mortal dread occasioned by the threats of Queen Jezebel (1 Kngs. 19:2). Considering
these facts, we can realize that God had a far greater motive in asking His question than merely to
confront Elijah with his fright. The Lord had little interest in having Elijah further confess his
fear. Much more, God was concerned to awaken the Prophet to worthy prophetic goals, to
forthright action addressed to the disastrous spiritual condition in Israel. God was calling Elijah
back to the work for which he was well-suited as a man of God.
What of us as People of God? The Lord certainly is using this passage to probe us in whatever
state we find ourselves, to call us into action according to His holy will. The Lord's question is
addressed to each of us: "What doest thou here?" Each one must answer for himself or herself.
Let us also be honest: God well knows how we came to this present place and circumstance in
our lives. He has even richly provided help for us to reach this meeting with Him today. And so,
in the desert of modern society, what are the tasks He is setting before us?
God's goal is very clear from the Gospel text. Speaking to the Disciples concerning the
transfigured Jesus, Whose normal face was now shining "like the sun" and His clothes "white as
the light" (Mt. 17:2), God makes two points. 1) This Jesus, Whom you have known merely as a
man, is now transfigured so that you may perceive that He is God the Son; and, therefore, 2) hear
Him! The Transfigured One, as God, has absolute claim on the life of each one of us.
Hence, God is speaking to awaken us, to raise our consciousness, to set us on the path He
desires - toward His best for us. We will reach that goal as we pay attention to Him Whom
Moses and Elijah, when they conversed with Christ, "made manifest that He was the Lord of the
quick and the dead, and that He was the God Who spake of old in the Law and the Prophets." In
both instances, on Mount Tabor and on Mount Horeb, God puts fear to rest in His beloved; He
by-passes human frailty and dread which clings to this life and calls His People to greater ends.
Both Elijah and the Lord Jesus' Disciples had to get off the mountain where God had confronted
them, and go back into the turmoil of the world to labor, so that men might see some shadow and
trace of the Kingdom to come in this present life. The Disciples had yet to learn the cost of
discipleship through the Lord's Passion and Resurrection. Elijah would encourage Jehu to take
the throne of Israel to purge the moral corruption eating at the heart of Israel's national life.
O God, grant us grace to ask what Thou wouldest have us to do, that Thy Spirit may save us from
all false choices, and that in Thy straight path we may not stumble.
