Photo: 12th century Icon from the Sinai.
We have entered our second week in our Lenten desert. As we do so, through the eyes of Peter, James, and John, God allows us a glimpse of the glorified Jesus. We see Jesus as he truly is.
As we, with the apostles, behold the image of Jesus glorified, let these words of St. John’s 1st letter resonate within us. “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Listen to that 2nd sentence once more. “We do know that when it is revealed, we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is.”
We shall be like him, transfigured. When you got up this morning and looked into the mirror, did you notice a certain glow about you? Was there some kind of aura of multiple colors of light surrounding the image looking back at you from the mirror? Bloodshot eyes don’t count, just in case you were wondering.
If we believe what St. John wrote, in beholding Jesus today, we also see that which will be for all those who faithfully follow Jesus. We, too, will assume the glory that the apostles saw in Jesus.
If we all have this ability to be transformed beyond who we are at this very moment, how on earth do to get to the state of being Transfigured? The “how” by which we may become transformed is clearly outlined by Jesus in all four gospels. However, there is one passage from Luke’s gospel in which Jesus indicates the path we must take in order to become Transfigured. It is a passage that many of us do not want to hear.
Jesus said in Luke’s gospel, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
This saying of Jesus is not widely embraced in our present age in which the glorification of the individuality of each person has taken on narcissistic qualities. This is best understood by the old light bulb joke. How many narcissists does it take to screw in a light bulb? The answer is one. He holds the bulb and the whole world revolves around him. Today, it seems that which holds importance for many people is only that which benefits their individual self. When the only criteria used to judge something is the question, “What’s in it for me?”; if the answer is negative, then it is rejected, no matter how much benefit it might hold for the common good of all people. Jesus is telling us that the glorification of the individual self by this means is a false glorification. It is a glorification that is baseless.
Jesus tells us that it is only in a loss of self that we gain knowledge of our true self, in which our glorified self can truly be revealed. To deny ourselves, is not to neglect our self-care, for self-care is a necessary part of discipleship. Jesus practiced good self-care. In order to do the work he did, he had to find time for recreation, nourishment, for rest, and for prayer. However, his principle focus in life was not on himself, but rather in doing the will of God his Father, and in serving others. He emptied himself in love for God his Father, and in love for the people he served.
To lose ourselves, is to let go of the selfishness and self-centeredness of our lives. When the prejudices that we harbor, the false gods of pride, power, and greed that were all a part of the temptations we heard in last Sunday’s gospel, get stripped away from our lives, we come to know that which is most important, that which is most vital for eternal happiness and life.
As our prayer life deepens, when we do more than just talk at God, but quiet ourselves and really listen to God, we enter the cloud that enveloped the apostles today. Rather than being frightened by the voice of God speaking to us in prayer, we are able to listen to the voice of God and enter into the mystery of God’s message to us.
As we model our lives after that of Jesus, and pour our lives out in loving service to others, we will find happiness that is eternal. True happiness is not in the acquiring and receiving of things, but rather in giving, especially the giving of ourselves to others. Those who give of themselves in loving service to others find that they receive more from those they serve, then that which they gave.
From our baptism we carry upon our foreheads the mark of the cross of Jesus. This mark was first signed on our foreheads by our parents, our godparents, and the priest or deacon. This cross holds the key to our destiny, to our own transfiguration. As we daily deny ourselves, and pick up our cross, whatever it may be, to follow Jesus, we know that when our cross becomes too burdensome, too oppressive, he will be there alongside us to help us. He knows firsthand what it means to carry a cross, and he will lift the cross from our shoulders and carry it for us. Jesus knew that the path to the Resurrection was only by taking up his cross first and carrying it. It is only in carrying our own cross that we can journey to the Resurrection and the Transfiguration that awaits us.
To be transfigured takes a lifetime. It is a gradual transformation. As we increasingly live a deepening prayer life, and a lifetime of service to others, we will find as we look into the mirror that gradually, the dark layers of the false self that cloak us is stripped away, and that which remains is the glorified light of who we truly are.
