Transfiguration

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.” Mark 9:2-13 

We often have a very hard time seeing the inner beauty and hidden sorrows and blessings that others carry. We size people up and draw near or dismiss them by their looks, their clothing and their voice alone. Yet we often guess wrong about others and never see the beautiful child buried under the weight of years and sorrows. We rarely glimpse what God knows, sees and loves.

Jesus has three disciples in tow as they go up the mountain. They are intending to pray with their teacher and friend. Instead they are given a vision of the true nature of Jesus and his intimate connection with the eternal and divine. They really don't know what to do. Like us, when we are witness to beauty, miracles and deep insight, we are often clueless. Our reliable old assumptions are shattered. God invites us today to rejoice when our tired, old assumptions are shattered and we glimpse the true love of God in our lives.

Today I ask God to help me be open to new insights and blessings. May we let go of our assumptions and barriers so that God can show us visions of true love and eternal divine relationships.