I wonder whether you know the Greek word Anagnorisis?
(pronounced Ana – naw- resis)?
Well, I didn’t, until I started checking out examples of moments of revelation of someone’s true identity. Anagnorisis is a moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery – it’s to do with recognition – not just of a person, but of what they stand for, who they really are, you might say.
In classical literature and theatre, this might involve the hero’s sudden awareness or realisation of something, often with an insight into a relationship with another character.
There are some very famous moments in film and theatre of this kind of revelation of someone’s true identity – it’s often there in Shakespeare’s plays of course. I studied the Merchant of Venice for O-level and very much enjoyed how Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as lawyers and manage to do what the men around them cannot – to undo the tricky knot involving a pound of flesh and bring about a happy conclusion, after which they reveal their real identity to their somewhat confused and surprised suitors, Bassiano and Graziano.
In the classic comedy ‘The Winter’s Tale’, Perdita is able to marry her prince after she is revealed as being a King’s daughter and not the shepherdess she appeared to be. A more recent, and rather topical example of anagnorisis is in ‘Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back’, where Darth Vader reveals to Luke Skywalker during a light sabre duel that he is in fact Luke’s father.
In today’s Gospel we see a similar moment of revelation, but sort of in reverse; – God says to those who are on the mountain top with Jesus, ‘This is my Son.’ The revelation, the epiphany, if you like – is not for the hero in this case, but for those who haven’t yet realised the hero’s true identity. And it’s for a particular purpose – ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’
Chapter 9 in Luke’s Gospel, where we find this account of the Transfiguration, is full of drama and action. It starts with Jesus sending out the twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God, having given them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.
Then there is the feeding of the five thousand, after which Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Messiah is followed by Jesus foretelling his death and saying that if they want to follow him they must take up the cross. Eight days later, he takes Peter, James and John up on the mountain to pray and it is while he is praying that the appearance of his face changes and his clothes become dazzling white.
We can feel sure that this account, in all its mystery and spookiness – dead men appearing in a cloud of glory – voices from heaven – is true. After all, Peter, and the brothers James and John, the closest friends of Jesus, the ones who later become the leaders of the newborn Christian church and so could have edited it if they’d wanted to – don’t exactly come out of this story covered in glory themselves – quite the reverse. First of all they almost miss the whole thing by falling asleep, and then Peter, stupefied by what he is seeing, starts gabbling about building three dwellings for Jesus, Moses and Elijah!
It’s understandable though that they are amazed by what is happening – and they are meant to be. Understanding any of this is beyond them, just as it is beyond us. How can we make sense of something that to our human way of thinking is completely impossible? We might just as well start believing that Darth Vader, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, C3PO, R2-D2 and the Wookie are real people who might just come walking down the street in Peterborough today! Yes well OK – you might just have seen them recently, advertising the Unofficial Galaxies Exhibition at the Cathedral – but honestly, they are only actors!
As Jesus is transfigured, it’s as if the veil parts for a moment between two worlds – Peter, James & John see through to the kingdom of heaven, a foretaste of what will be for them, and what already is for Moses and Elijah. Jesus, of course, is fully a part of both – fully human and also fully divine – a foot in two camps – earth and heaven. And there’s no way we can get our heads around that! Trying to make sense of it down the centuries has caused huge debate and disagreement, wars and schisms – but we don’t need to make sense of it – rather we need to receive it as the most astounding gift – another layer of the glorious impossible made possible because God loves us so much and wants to bathe us in that love so that we become radiant with it too.
The glory of God, seen in the radiance of Jesus in the transfiguration, reveals his true identity, and the presence of Moses and Elijah as they discuss together what is to happen through his death, demonstrates a spiritual realm where God is fully at work and in charge of events despite appearances to the contrary.
Like Peter, we cannot help but try to bring all this down to a human level where we can manage it in some way. Instead, we need to let our imaginations loose, let our spirits soar, as we encounter something beyond words to describe. Just as with the parables of the kingdom we have been hearing, and the realisation that to be a part of this kingdom is beyond anything we may already possess, so as we see this glimpse of God’s glory in Jesus, we learn that we can totally trust him, completely adore him and joyfully follow him, even if need be, to the cross ourselves.
Peter says, describing what he experienced ‘We ourselves heard God’s voice from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain ‘This is my Son, my Chosen One – listen to him!’ You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place. Yes the world may often be dark, our lives often hard – but just look, look who it is who we follow, see the radiance and beauty and power of the God in whom we believe, listen to Jesus, who will lead us, listen to him who has the words of eternal life, who gives us the kingdom – believe, live and be radiant.
Some words from a hymn found in the pre-reformation Sarum rite ‘O Light of light, by love inclined’, may help us enjoy the majesty of the Transfiguration and live out this radiance:
O wondrous sight! O vision fair
of glory that the church shall share,
which Christ upon the mountain shows,
where brighter than the sun he glows!
The law and prophets there have place,
two chosen witnesses of grace,
the Father’s voice from out the cloud
proclaims his only Son aloud!
With Shining face and bright array,
Christ deigns to manifest that day
what glory shall be theirs above
who joy in God with perfect love.
Amen.
Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 6th August 2023. (St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)
Readings: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 97; 2 Peter 1.16-19; Luke 9:28-36