Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty

before he suffered death upon the cross:

give us grace to perceive his glory,

that we may be strengthened to suffer with him

and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen

The glory of God shines out and whenever we come close to God, we too begin to shine!

Moses goes up Mount Sinai to meet with God – and God gives Moses the law for Moses to pass onto the people of God. The law, the ten commandments, show the people both what God is like, and how they are to live if they are to be his people. The law is really all about love – love for God, love for others and love for ourselves.

Later, of course, Jesus spells this out again to make it clearer –  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment – he says  ‘And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’

Today’s readings then are certainly about love and glory. 

Moses’ face shines after he has been close with God – not simply an outward reflection of God’s glory but also of his own inner transformation through spending time in this closeness with God.

This touches upon some of what I was saying last week – about how human beings, made in the image of God, are made also for this closeness, this intimacy with God – and we are never fully ourselves until we are able to find it. It’s why we have such a sense of longing, even emptiness, at the heart of us – our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God, as St Augustine puts it. 

And as we explored last week – the way we are able to find our way back to closeness with God is through Jesus – the man who stood in the boat and calmed the storm – Jesus of Nazareth, Lord of all heaven and earth. 

And the glory of God is revealed in Jesus, as he now stands on a mountain top. Like Moses, he too goes up a mountain to meet with God – although this particular mountain was probably more of a hilltop rising up from the flat lands around the Sea of Galilee.

But like last week’s story of the calming of the storm – Jesus has gone to this place to withdraw from the crowds and the busyness of his life and all that presses upon him constantly. He has gone to pray -taking with him his closest disciples who were also with him in the boat – Peter and John and James. 

It is as he is praying that his face begins to shine and his clothes become dazzling white.

As he prays, he comes so close to God and God comes so close to him that the glory of God, which is of course also his own glory, shines out.

In part then, the Transfiguration, reveals more of Jesus’ true identity, just as his divine power was revealed in the calming of the storm.

And this is further demonstrated by the two figures who join Jesus – Elijah, the great prophet, and Moses, the liberator and lawgiver. These two represent most fully the old covenant between God and his people – but Jesus is bringing about a new covenant – one based not on many laws and repeated sacrifice – but one entirely based on love – a sacrifice of love made to free us from a debt under the terms of the old covenant that we could never repay.

And as at the beginning of his ministry, at his baptism, here too God speaks from heaven so that there can be no doubt about who Jesus is – ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’

Listening to all this with amazement and fear are Peter, John and James – they see and hear all this but do not yet comprehend what it all means.

Later they will come to understand – but for now, this encounter, this closeness with God, God the Father and God the Son – is a gift of glory for them at a key point in Jesus’ ministry.

The Mount of Transfiguration is a high point in every way for them all – once they come back down to the plain, its downhill all the way, faster and faster towards Jerusalem and the cross. 

When Moses and Elijah speak with Jesus about his departure – they don’t just mean his leaving them and the mountaintop, they mean his coming death – the word for departure in the Greek of the New Testament – is of course Exodus. 

The first Exodus, through Moses, liberates God’s people from captivity in Egypt – the second Exodus, through Jesus – liberates us all from death and brings us back to closeness with God and a full share in his glory.

This is the journey of Lent we are about to begin once again.

Only this year – there seems more at stake for us all.

It rather feels like we too are on the downhill slope, heading faster and faster towards disaster.

And as we prepare to enter into Lent – and into this year of Prayer – we need to find a way to regain the closeness with God that prayer brings – a closeness that makes us radiant with love – love for God and a renewed trust, faith and hope in his loving purposes for his people and for the world.

So for our Lenten journey this year – we have some opportunities to explore prayer – through the various Lent Courses, online and in person, through joining in with prayer at church or at home and finding time each day to be close to God. To withdraw from the busyness and all that presses upon us constantly – if that means going up a mountain, or more likely round here, a slight rise – then do! Set aside time, find a place, make the most of the prayer resources that you can find in church or online, or ask any of us, and each other for ideas and help.

Most importantly, make time to come close to God, to talk to God, to rest in God’s glory – the glory we see in Jesus – who shows us what God is like and how we are to live as God’s people – those who love God, and love others as we love ourselves. 

Loving God,
you know how deep is our longing for you,
may we find our way to your heart of love this Lent,

and bend our wills to love your goodness
and your glory in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston 3rd March 2025. (St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)

Readings: Exodus 34.29-end; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2; Luke 9.28-36 (37-43a)