On The Feast of the Transfiguration
A Holy Day that means more to me as the years pass.
I confess I used not to pay much attention to Transfiguration Day, which is today August 6th. Really I did not pay it any attention at all until Anglicanism got my attention. But now I find it means more and more to me with the passing years.
The Transfiguration reminds me that, when you least expect it, the Lord may break through into your life to show you that He’s for real and that He’s with you. (Yes, God still does that. I know.)
The event also is part of the humble glory of the Incarnation. Perhaps God could have just skipped the humility and suffering of the Incarnation and shouted down from Heaven, “Hey people, I love you and forgive you if you believe in Me. But you are icky, so I’m not coming down at this time. See you in a few thousand years. Bye!”
No. Instead, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
And, of His mercy, Jesus did not come unfiltered. The power of His glory would have undone us if He did. We cannot handle that in our current fallen mortal state. The Apostles themselves were scared witless by the still filtered glory of the Transfiguration.
But He revealed more than enough of His glory, in His perfect life, in His resurrection and ascension . . . and in the Transfiguration, a foretaste of the glory to come. The Apostles had their faith strengthened (if shaken!) by that event. Our faith is strengthened also, if we allow it.
But enough of my reflections. Yesterday, I came across this excellent post on the Transfiguration and its depiction at the monastery of St. Catherine on Mt. Sinai. It is a must read on this happy and holy day. So read, rejoice, and have an excellent Feast of the Transfiguration.
Your words struck a deep personal cord:
"The Transfiguration reminds me that, when you least expect it, the Lord may break through into your life to show you that He’s for real and that He’s with you. (Yes, God still does that. I know.)"
I can personally attest that this is true!
I was on a men's silent retreat during Lent of 2023, with 20 or so other men from Christ Church Madison, when the Lord broke through to me in an unexpected and powerful way. While meditating on His Word, I was convicted of my sin, and then after calling on Him for mercy, was forgiven and set free! This, even though I had been a Christian since age 7, and had been raised in a Christian home. At age 71, I have never been so free in my life! It was and is a miraculous new work of the Holy Spirit in my life. My words here are not enough to describe my joy.
As a result of that experience, some months later, I was able to share about it with my estranged, ex-wife, confess my sins against her that contributed to our divorce, and ask for her forgiveness. She was willing and able to do so, based on the Lord's work in her own life.
3+ years later, we are reconciled and being reconciled, and on a new journey of healing, greater understanding, unity, and mutual enjoyment of our friendship. Our children and grandchildren have been blessed and encouraged in the process. I sense that the Lord is not done yet.
The Lord used Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton (Where Stewart Ruch is our Bishop), and then a church they planted called Christ Church Madison, where I now live and serve, to heavily influence and provide the groundwork and atmosphere for the spiritual healing that has occurred in my life.
I am so grateful to the Lord for His healing touch, for the possibility of radical transformation, and for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the context of the Body of Christ. The Lord is real, and he has the power to transform us. He broke the power of sin and death and was raised to life. He has promised to give that same new life to us, because of His great love.
I am so deeply grateful. I love to express my gratitude to Him so every Sunday during worship at Christ Church Madison, along with 250 others who are also transformed and being transformed.