Transfiguration

Tonight I sit on the shores of the Sea of Galilee watching the reflections of the full moon across the waves, the gentle breeze refreshes my soul. We are staying at a guest house just north between Tiberius and Capernum. Today we set out early from Amman crossed the border into Israel bidding our guide Hani a fond farewell. We are met by another guide, Dr. John Petersen. I guess our guides will all be named John, Hani is a form of the same name. Anyway upon crossing the Jordan River, which isn’t very wide at all we made our first stop at  Bet Alpha, where we see the remains of a synagogue and are intrigued by the mosaic bearing a zodiac. Why would a zodiac be in a synagogue?

 

After lunch we ascended Mt Tabor, predominantly considered to be the Mountain where Jesus was Transfigured. (See Mark 9:2-12). Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain, quite a hike as it must have been. There they see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah and then Jesus is Transfigured before there eyes. The disciples offer to build tabernacles one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus. They hear a voice from heaven saying: “This is my Son. Listen to Him.”

 

It is so typical to be in a holy moment and wonder, what should I do? So we will busy ourselves building something when sometimes nothing is needed. Sometimes we just need to listen.

 

I am traveling with a wonderful group of Episcopalians. Father Bob Trache and his wife Elize Ragsdale are tremendous hosts. As a Pentecostal this has been a great stretch for me. Today on the mountain we gathered to share The Eucharists. I got to be honest, I was scarred to death. You see Pentecostal tradition (or non-tradition as it may be) treats communion totally different. I respect the liturgy of churches, but I am not liturgical. Honestly, I sometimes wondered if the life of the Gospel was drowned out with liturgy. Today as we shared this moment with all my fear and all my prejudice God told me, just listen to My Son. There in the middle of the liturgy Jesus spoke to me. There as I sipped real wine for communion for the first time, Jesus spoke to me. Listen to The Invitation that Father Bob read.

 

“The table of bread and wine is now made ready. 

It is the table of the company of Jesus, and all who love him. 

It is the table of sharing with the poor of the world, with whom Jesus himself identified. 

It is the communion with the earth in which Christ became incarnate.”

So come to this table, you who have much faith and you who would like to have more; 

you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time; 

you who have tried to follow Jesus and you who have failed.

Come it is Christ who invites us to meet Him here.”

 

If you are wondering, I am not changing my modus operandi . I am not looking to build a tabernacle. But what I am doing is listening to the voice of Jesus. I can say with certainty that for me Mt Tabor was the mount of transformation. As Jesus continues to transform my heart when I still my thoughts, opinions and traditions long enough to listen for the voice of Jesus.