The Venerable Richard I. Cluett
February 26, 2006
2Kings 2:1-12; 2Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
Mark tells us that Jesus “was transfigured before them and his clothes became dazzling white.” Luke tells us that “the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white.” Matthew tells us that “he was transfigured before them, and his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.”
In another place we read that when Moses descended from Sinai after his time in God’s presence, he is significantly altered in his physical features. The face of Moses is transformed; “the skin of his face shone”.
As suddenly as the cloud had descended, it is gone, and “Jesus was found alone”. If anything could testify to the power and majesty of the epiphany they had just experienced, it is the absolute silence that now descends on the usually bantering, chatting, arguing disciples.
Utterly dazed and dazzled by the images they have witnessed, totally confused about the relationship between Jesus’ words about suffering and death and the heavenly voice’s assertion that “this is my Son,” And lest they simply prattle on about the experience, Jesus tells them to be silent.
But you can picture their faces. Amazement. Shining, bright, engaged, aglow, alive with a light. Having been in the presence of the Holy, knowing that they were in the presence of the Holy, things had changed for them and it had to be reflected in their faces.
I remember a time in the past when it was very early in my time as rector. I was still trying to learn who we were in that place. What’s life like here? What are people like here? What’s the kingdom like here? What do we experience of God here here?
After a long period of increasingly severe headaches, the mother in a family was diagnosed to have a brain tumor. An operation was attempted. It was not a success. There would be no medical success.
As the doctors tried other therapies, the shape of this trim, lively woman changed. Mega-doses of steroids do that, you know. Her body became swollen. Her face became swollen. The skin tightened. Her face literally began to shine.
A physical symptom - but it became a sacrament. Remember the definition of sacrament : an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Her face shown!
Eventually she lost the ability to word things – to match words with her thoughts – but this woman never lost the ability to communicate. Her eyes still shone with love, with gratitude, with security, her face shown because she was in the presence of the Living God.
As the family was able to be even less a part of the parish community in terms of being present at liturgies and gatherings, they became more and more a part of this community of faith as individuals, groups, families, committees ministered to that family. In much the same way as Lynn Heiney and Sandy Kelly and others of you carry out your Share Care ministries It was the most incredible ministry of presence, pastoral care, witness and proclamation of faith and love and solidarity.
As this woman and her family lived, and at the same time prepared for her death, Jesus himself was with them nursing, caring, comforting, carrying, cooking, and quietly, by both actions and words, testifying to the faith that was in them – that Jesus is Lord of life and of death – that God is present in all, and that all will be well, even if it doesn’t feel like it now.
When you walked into her presence, she ministered to you because you felt as if you had stepped on holy ground. When she looked at you she was radiant. Her face would break into a beatific smile. As you saw her face shine, you knew that God was present. The Glory of God’s Kingdom was being revealed.
I believe that it is God’s intention- that it is the desire of God’s heart - for each person, all persons, every person to live in God’s presence and for our faces to shine with the light of that presence. It is not meant to be a sometime, hardly ever, or never kind of experience. In the end-time, when God brings it all together and wraps it all up, I believe that is the way we will be. God’s Glory – and ours – fully revealed – face to shining face.
It is a privilege to be nearby when it happens in our own day and time. God means it to happen in our own day and time. Can we see it?
We live in the presence of the holy. On the mountain, on the plain, down in the valleys, our feet are always on holy ground. The world is a holy place. God is powerfully, mysteriously, gracefully present revealing His world and His Glory – and ours – to us.
Pray with me.
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
