Psalm 50: 1-6; 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6; Mark 9: 2-9
February 15, 2014
Transfiguration Sunday
We are recognizing tomorrow President's Day as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two of our greatest presidents were born this month. Abe Lincoln was a man with a good sense of humor and a humble spirit. He said this about his appearance, “Sometimes I feel like the ugly man who met an old woman traveling through a forest. The Old woman said, 'you are the ugliest man I ever saw.'
'I can't help it,' the ugly man said.
'I guess not,' the woman admitted, 'but the least you could do is stay at home.'”
Every year we read the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. It is about the appearance of Jesus, the transfigured appearance of Jesus. The three Synoptic gospels (explain) all share this account. In every case, it tells us that Moses and Elijah joined Jesus and that Peter suggested putting up a dwelling for them. Peter was pretty good at saying things that weren't exactly brilliant. But he also was the one who first proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah...followed almost immediately by rebuking Jesus for saying he was going to suffer and die. We'd say today that Peter was impulsive. I think if the transfiguration happened today, Peter would have asked if he could take a “selfie” with them to post on facebook.