Transfiguration Conversation

Mark 9:2-10

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.

Have you ever wondered what Jesus, Moses and Elijah talked about? It's a fascinating question to which there is no answer since scripture does not enlighten us as to what their conversation was about. However, a priest I once knew said, “The most important faculty is not intellect or emotion; it is imagination.” So, let’s allow our imaginations free reign for a bit and listen in on a possible conversation between the three of them…

Jesus: “Moses! Elijah! You have no idea how good it is to see you, brothers! Just last night I was speaking with the Father and telling him how isolated and lonely I've been feeling.”

Moses: “It's glorious to see you, too, Lord. We were deeply honored when the Father said we could come to you.”

Elijah: “We asked him why he chose us and he said we would be able to understand your challenges better than anyone else because of our earthly experiences. Tell us your sorrows, Master.

Jesus: Right now I'm carrying the Prophet's wound, the one that every prophet has had to bear. It's the wound that comes from the incomprehension of the people. Not too many are able to hear what I have to tell them and even the ones who are willing to listen are having a very tough time comprehending my message. I mean, look at those three men over there – they’re terrified. They’ve heard my message, seen my miracles and I’ve told them I’m the Son of God but it hasn’t penetrated. Every time something out of the ordinary occurs they can’t believe what’s happening and they either misinterpret it or they panic.”

Moses: “You don't have to say anymore! I can’t count how many times God did amazing miracles of deliverance for his people in the wilderness and all it did was frighten them into temporary obedience rather than create a loving trust in their God. Then before long they would forget all about God’s merciful provision and begin to complain angrily again.”

Elijah: “It is tremendously discouraging when people just cannot grasp who our God really is. Miracles excite them and create awe in them but it doesn’t take long before they forget his power and start trying to do everything themselves again. Trying to teach them the truth about God was difficult for me as well. They wanted to believe and understand but they just wouldn’t listen well enough to grasp it all. I have to say, though, after spending the time I did on earth and now having experienced the lightness of the kingdom, I realize that there is something about the world that fogs the truth. The Fallen One has done such a good job of creating a miasma of half lies and confusion. The truth is difficult to see. God’s people really do have a challenge to hear, believe and hold on to the Light.”

Jesus: “That's true, Elijah. Sometimes it feels like even I am moving through muddy clouds even though I know exactly who I am and why I’m here. The spiritual atmosphere in the world is immensely dense and heavy. I get frustrated sometimes with my followers but I love them so much for how hard they try under very difficult circumstances to grasp who I really am and what I'm teaching them. They try to comprehend it all. They try to understand what the Father is asking of me and of them. They know the light is there and I can see the great desire in them to reach out and hold on to it. They may be confused, anxious and terrified but they have given themselves to me and I’ll do whatever it takes to bring them all safely home.”

Moses: “I felt the same, Lord. My mission wasn't anything like yours but I loved my people with a passion that came from beyond me. Even though I often felt inadequate and frustrated, I would never have abandoned them in the wilderness. I, too, just wanted to 'bring them home'.”

Elijah: “I agree. Even when God was teaching the people to turn away from false gods by stopping the rain from falling for three years or sending fire down from the heavens to consume animals and stone altars, the strongest emotion in me was not so much anger at their stubbornness but compassion and longing. I knew that what I was feeling came straight from God’s heart. I was not big enough myself to be able to have that kind of passion for the people. It had to come from our God!”

Jesus: “Still, I wish that even for a few minutes they could stop listening to their own fearful confusion to really hear what I’m saying to them, absorb my words of love and know that the time has come and the Kingdom is really here!

When I was telling the Father how homesick I was, I thought of all these people following me, trying so hard to love me in spite of their bewilderment. Suddenly I saw streams and rivers turning into torrents and floods of people throughout the ages, people trying to love God and people aching for their true Home. I was overwhelmed with the deluge of their desire. I told the Father that no matter how discouraged or lonely I feel, I want to do whatever it takes to bring them all home to him. All of them. I will bring home the ones who have gone before me, the ones who tried to follow the two of you, the ones who only suspect there is something more, the ones throughout the ages who hear my Name and even the many who can’t hear it. I want to bring them all home no matter what the cost. But I admit, my heart cried out in agony, “Father, please let them listen to me!”

Moses: “Yes, Lord, we know. We heard you. All of heaven heard that cry and we have come to tell you that you were heard in the Heart of all hearts. We want you to know that the Father and all of heaven are with you in full sustaining love. You are not alone. Ever. Remember us and know that you have our utter gratitude for what you are doing.

Elijah: "My Lord, we have to go now but the Father said to tell you that when we've gone and the light fades, there will be a Word for you and your disciples from him.”

Jesus: “Ah...I long to hear my Father's voice once more! But it’s still hard to let you go. You have no idea what it has meant to me to see my brothers from home. I feel much stronger now and not so all alone. Thank you.”

At that point, the three of them looked over at Peter, James and John. Peter was scared and very uncomfortable. He didn’t know what to say, but he felt like he should say something. He said, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Jesus, Moses and Elijah looked each other and then looked back at Peter with great delight and amusement. Elijah whispered to Jesus, “Does he think we're actually going to live here?”

Then a cloud overshadowed them all and from the cloud there came a voice so filled with love it was hard to bear. “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” The cloud dissipated, the light faded and when the disciples looked around, they saw only Jesus.

And Jesus was laughing.

“Come on, my good brothers, let’s go back down the mountain. There’s much that needs to be done. Oh...don’t try to tell anyone about what you saw, all right? They wouldn’t be able to hear you anyway.”

Lenten question: Are you listening to Jesus or are other fears and voices drowning him out?