Matthew 17:1-9

Epiphany 4 – Year A
Epiphany Last - Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1-9

Earlier in Epiphany we wondered where Jesus was staying, from what position might we get the best perspective to investigate the meaning of life. Having had some experience of traveling with Jesus, we've been waiting for an event that will coalesce all we have learned. Finally, a mountain-top experience to pull everything together and now we, too, can do an extended Sabbath rest.

We move from "Jesus, where are you staying?" to "Jesus, you must stay here!" We shift from visiting Jesus' space to building space for Jesus.

Always this desire for certainty, for stasis, for our structure. Each time we come to some such plateau there needs to be a holy shout in our ear – "Listen, just listen." When we settle enough to do so we, of course, hear, "Get up, get moving." In hearing this we wonder what we will take with us, what witness we will bear with us to barter against another's experience. And again we hear, "Take nothing for the journey – not even this moment with transcendent prophecy."