Most stories follow a pattern from situation to complication,
then resolution, ending with celebration. Where do we see Celebration in the story of the Transfiguration? Perhaps we see it in God’s own words,
“This is my son… Listen to him.” But more likely the celebration takes the form
of silent wonder. “They kept silent, and told no one in those days.” They
weren’t told to speak. They weren’t told to act. They weren’t told to plan.
They were told to listen.
Teach me to listen, Lord
For your voice
In busyness and in boredom
In certainty and in doubt
In noise and in silence
Teach me, Lord, to listen.[1]
For your voice
In busyness and in boredom
In certainty and in doubt
In noise and in silence
Teach me, Lord, to listen.[1]
What were they to listen to? Jesus had just told them to
tell no one that their assessment of him was correct. He is the Christ. He had
told them that he was going to die. He had told them that if they want to
follow him they must die. He will tell them again, in just a few verses, that
he is going to die. They need to listen.
Unfortunately, by the end of the chapter they are arguing
about who is the greatest. Perhaps that very argument was fueled by their
experience. Obviously Peter, James, and John must be greater than the other
disciples. They saw things the others didn’t. They experienced things the
others didn’t know anything about. They must be greater than the other nine
disciples. But that raises the question: Which of the three are greatest? The
celebration of silence will devolve into a debate about greatness.
How often do our experiences with the presence of God turn
from silent awe to verbal self-focus? How often we believe and act as though
because we have worshiped we are therefore greater? We are no better than the
world. We are no greater than the world. We are not accepted because we worship. We are not acknowledged because
we know our Bibles better. We are not received in the Kingdom because we are
moral. We are accepted because of Jesus, and because of Jesus alone.
Jesus didn’t let Peter, James and John see his glory because
they were great men. Nor were they great men because they saw his glory. God’s
command was, “Listen.” We are all running around trying to be great, trying to
be somebody, trying to leave behind a legacy, trying to make sure that we gain
our Father’s approval, trying to be okay. God says, “Stop trying, and just
listen.
We are often too busy lecturing God on what needs to be done
to hear him speak. Listen to the Good News. Listen to God’s plan. Listen to
God’s priorities. Listen to Jesus words. “I must die. If you want to follow me,
then you must die too. Stop trying to be somebody, and just listen." "This is my
Son, my Chosen One, Listen to him!”
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