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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 13, 2007 The Transfiguration |
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Frontline Devotion for Tuesday, February 13, 2007 by Mary Jo Anderson
Luke 9:28-36 . . . Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning . . . a cloud appeared and enveloped them . . . A voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him . . . (NIV)
I have read and re-read this passage numerous times over the past several weeks. I’ve looked at the same account in Matthew and in Mark. I tried different translations and I even looked up the word transfiguration in the dictionary. Still, this story remains a mystery to me and I wonder what I can draw from daily living to further illustrate this devotion.
The only thing that comes to mind is the television series, Touched by an Angel, which I believe is no longer a regular series. If you’re familiar with it, you know that several earthly-appearing characters enter into people’s lives. From week to week, they may be co-workers, neighbors, shop owners, bartenders, health care providers, teachers, complete strangers, etc. You never know where these main cast members will turn up. At some point, they reveal themselves as angels and when this happens, a radiant heavenly glow surrounds them. This reminds me of the Transfiguration story and in some small way helps me to visualize what it must have looked like. And, yet, it is still a mystery to me.
Recently I began the novel, Abide With Me, by Elizabeth Strout. It’s too early in the story for me to summarize or recommend, but one particular passage caught my attention and has helped me to better understand what today’s devotion is about. At the risk of violating copyright laws, I’ll share it with you . . . In this particular scene, Tyler the local pastor who is burdened with numerous real-life crises of his own, is driving along a country road and trying to stay focused.
“Keep moving, he thought. And keep an eye out for God. Who was, if you cared for the Psalms, as Tyler did, looking right now from heaven, beholding all the sons of men, considering all their works. But what Tyler longed for was to have The Feeling arrive; when every flicker of light that touched the dipping branches of a weeping willow, every breath of breeze that bent the grass toward the row of apple trees, every shower of yellow ginkgo leaves dropping to the ground with such direct and tender sweetness, would fill the minister with profound and irreducible knowledge that God was right there.”
Whether it’s an author who has eloquently used words as her paintbrush or a friend who listens and encourages or a gardener’s handiwork that inspires me, I have no doubt that the triune God speaks to me and ministers to me through others and all that is around me. Some things will always be a mystery. My faith has to take over where my senses and life experiences leave off. Like the distracted pastor, I just need to keep moving, keep watching, and keep listening.
Dear God: Help me to appreciate miracles and mystery. Help me to nurture my faith so that I may see your brilliant, radiant light all around me. Amen
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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