Feast of the Transfiguration

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and, in those days, told no one any of the things they had seen. Luke 9:28-36

Sometimes we don't see the full measure of any given human being. We see our siblings as antagonists one day and best friends the next. We remember the harsh things that were said and hold grudges towards others. Our hurt and our past can often blind us. The disciples were with Jesus all day and night and often didn't see the whole picture. Going up on the mountain with Jesus, they glimpsed him as his true self, as God sees him. I wonder if we really see one another as God sees us? Our human limits, our disabilities, and our flaws, often mask the true beauty that God alone knows. May we live today as those loved by our Creator who sees us complete, whole and forgiven.

Loving Creator, you spoke from the cloud

encouraging the disciples to listen to Jesus

claiming him as the divine and eternal son

the true light, love and savior of the world.

We look at one another and judge ourselves

we compare and contrast and are jealous

we think we see the others as whole persons

when instead we see the things that they lack.

Help us to have the loving eyes of our savior

give us hearts to know others as you do

let us listen to Jesus and be reconciled together

so your love might flow through us here. Amen.