Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for March 3, 2019

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

Through the season of Epiphany, nine weeks long this year, we have followed along in the Gospels as Jesus became revealed to his followers as the Messiah.

The Transfiguration of Christ (1605), oil painting on canvas by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Musee de Beaux Arts of Nancy, France. (Click image to enlarge.)

From the visit of the three wise men through his baptism, his first miracle, and the beginning of his public ministry, we conclude on Sunday with his dramatic revelation on the mountain top, clothed in light, joined by prophets and the voice of God ringing from the clouds. Indeed, radiant light appears throughout Sunday’s readings, as does the prophet Moses who received God’s commandments on Mount Sinai. In the first reading we remember Moses coming down from the mountain, his own face transfigured in light by his encounter with the Holy One.

Psalm: Psalm 99

This ancient hymn portrays God as a powerful king receiving loud chants of praise. In the temple in Jerusalem, two cherubim – fierce angels appearing as lions with wings and human faces – were placed atop the Ark of the Covenant to serve as God’s throne. Our God is no petty tyrant but a mighty ruler who expects justice and provides equity for the righteous. God speaks out of clouds and fire, demanding justice for all, dealing out punishment when it’s needed, but ultimately forgiving all.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12 – 4:2

In this second recorded letter to the people of Corinth, Paul recalls the Exodus reading about Moses coming down the mountain with his shining face covered by a veil to protect the people from its unearthly glow. Now Paul takes that image and turns it around to express the idea that Jesus unveils God’s new covenant through Christ in all its shining glory. God’s transforming light can inspire the people to take the message of the Gospels out to all the world.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36, 37-43a

As we come to the Transfiguration Gospel through the prior readings, suddenly we see it anew. Peter, John and James, mouths dropping in awe, see Jesus with Moses and Elijah, but now Jesus, not Moses, is the shining one, his face and clothing aglow as he is transfigured in God’s light and voice. God’s voice declares Jesus his son and chosen One. “Listen to him,” booms the divine voice, repeating the words that God spoke from a cloud in Jesus’ baptism: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Jesus and the apostles come down the mountain, and life returns to what is “normal” for Jesus: He astounds the crowd by casting out a child’s particularly angry demon.