Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 6:24-34

March 2, 2014

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The shadow fell six days before: he’d talked of suffering death.

His words so worried Peter – the one just named by him the Rock
beneath the church – that Peter had hurried to halt such ill-considered speech, bringing a stiff (“You Satan!”) rebuke.

He, the Christ as Peter confessed, was just beginning to teach them that to follow had a price:

a cross of their own, the sacrificial love that was his way.

If dreams of power had spurred them, or other superficial goals, they were soon to face with him the hour of powerlessness and loss, of his pain and death – and of a greater, lasting gain.

To lift them from shadow he has them climb a mountain to a solitary place,

a peak where the wide air and slower time could make for clearer views,

an open space for thought and prayer.

Clouds draw near, sun grows dimmed, but a stronger light begins to gleam:
Christ himself begins to shine, clothes to glow, as if a veil has been raised on unseen glory.

Glazed in splendor, a stranger sight: Moses, Elijah, speaking to Jesus as to a friend.

Amidst the blaze of light a voice from the cloud that briefly freezes
the men with fear.

They hear: “This is my son.

Listen to him.” – And the vision is done.

“Keep what you’ve seen”, Jesus says, “to yourselves until after I’ve risen from the dead.”

And while it seems the case that no one tells the tale – despite wonder filling their heads – before his death and resurrection, we have the story now. . .

preparing to make our journey to the cross and the empty
tomb.

Darkness will fall again, but we take the bright vision with us for strengthening faith:

the moments on mountain top a gift to all we valley-bound, where lengthening shadow can sometimes remind us to lift our head:  

To find the way that’s joy to live, the light that leads us – within us – he gives.