I always think that the Feast of the Transfiguration has a bit of a Picnic at Hanging Rock feel about it. There’s something strange happening high up on a mountain, with people dressed in white, strange light and clouds and figures who are there and then not there., not to mention a disembodied voice that booms from the heavens. All we need is some spooky background music to set the scene and get us in the mood! There is no doubt that in Scripture mountain top experiences are juxtaposed with deep valley experiences and you can’t have one without the other.
On this last Sunday of the Epiphany season we are at a pivot point. We have come to the end of Epiphany with its stories of miracles, and its deep sense that in this Jesus, God’s light is shining into our world. And now we stand on the brink of Lent with its painful story of the journey to the cross. None of us really want to go through Lent to get to Easter. Can’t we just skip the ashes and the sackcloth? The reality is that we can’t, either in the season or in our lives. After all no follower is above the master.
What have we learnt this Epiphany-tide? Who is this Jesus and what is he calling us to do?
Shalom
Mother Lynda
Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-12, Mark 9:2-9