Patience and the Transfiguration

This Sunday we celebrate the Last Sunday after Epiphany, on which the Church always commemorates (regardless of when it occurs on the calendar) the Transfiguration of Jesus.  It is appropriate that this mystical event is remembered right before the start of the season of Lent as it gives us an image of the resurrected Christ to help sustain us through the days of penance and preparation.  This revelation to Peter, James and John on Mt. Tabor in the Galilee (northern Israel) was intended to help them preserve through the persecution awaiting them in Jerusalem (southern Israel). 
This year we are thinking about the Transfiguration through the fruit of the Spirit of patience.  It is interesting that in the midst of the revelation, Peter wants to build booths for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, a Jewish custom of “Sukkot” that signifies the end of the wandering in the dessert with a joyous festival of harvest.  The problem with this is that Peter is trying to overcome his fear of being in God’s presence by doing something, essentially diverting his attention to something he understands and can control. God interrupts Peter’s plans by commanding him to listen to Jesus.
In this situation, Peter’s impatience is manifested by his fear, where he wants to do something rather than simply be in the moment.  In our results-drive society, the thought of just being seems counterproductive (literally) and a waste of time.  However that makes us forget that we are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS.  There are times when we need to stop doing and just be, like Peter was told to do.  Many of us find this to be a challenge because we have nothing to show for our time – but is that really true?  What is more profound than finding ourselves in God’s presence?  Even if we stop doing and just be for 5 minutes, we (God willing) will find ourselves more at peace, more focused and able to deal with the stresses of our lives more effectively.  We will have more patience!  Patience breeds patience.  It is amazing and true. 
Let’s try it out!
In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

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