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Transfiguration of the Lord (Aug. 6th) Ocala 2004 (Aug. 8) Two days ago our Holy Orthodox Church celebrated the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This major Holy Day falls almost midpoint during the first 15 days of August; a period, which the Church has set aside to particularly honor our Holy Mother St. Mary, the Panagia. Instead of basing my sermon on the Gospel lesson of today, I chose to speak on the Transfiguration, knowing that otherwise this major Holy Day would go by unnoticed. The Day of the Transfiguration on the 6th of August, and that of the Dormition of our Holy Mother on August 15th, should not merely be Days of commemoration through the Rituals and Celebrations, but rather, they should serve as focal points for all Christians, so that they can focus more critically their own image with God. To tune in, as we say, with greater fidelity to our Lord God and Creator. In his Gospel, St. Matthew describes fully the Lord's Transfiguration in the presence of three of His closest Apostles, Peter, John and James. Someone may ask: "was it necessary for our Lord to transfigure Himself? And what type of a transfiguration took place?" These are very natural questions, and we shall see why the Lord thought it necessary to transfigure Himself, so that the Apostles could be edified in their faith. As we know, our Lord and God, walking this earth and teaching, very often became the object of attacks by His enemies, much to the dismay of His trusted Disciples. The Lord knew all too well, the future disappointment and disillusionment of His Apostles, when He would be captured, judged and crucified as a common thief! For this reason, shortly before the time had came for His public humiliation and death upon the Cross, the Lord took Peter, John and James to the top of mount Tabor, so that their hearts would be fortified, --- their faith strengthened, and their devotion edified, preparing them for the horrendous events which were soon to follow, and to which they would be eyewitnesses. In a most peaceful surrounding then, and in the stillness of night, the three Apostles joined their Master in prayer. Suddenly, without any forewarning, the bleakness of the night is followed by indescribable illumination and unimaginable glory and brilliance. The Lord is transfigured; His countenance shined as blinding as the sun; His garments became whiter than snow. And in this celestial atmosphere, there appear on each side of the Lord, two of the great Prophets, Moses and Elias, who were conversing with the Lord! Soon after, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from Above was clearly heard saying: "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear Him." Matthew 17:5 As the vision faded, the Apostles stood there dumbfounded; speechless,--- amazed, --- startled, --- virtually transported. How could they ever have suspected that the Passion and the Cross were soon to follow? And further, that the Law and the Prophets were to be fulfilled as Christ had always preached? St. Peter, literally overcome by this ineffable Glory, says to the Lord: "Lord, it is good for us to stay here. Let us make three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses and the other for Elias." Matthew 27:4 Peter expressed his wish as a result of his joy and enthusiasm as he witnessed what was truly a Divine revelation. However, the purpose of the Transfiguration was simply to give the Apostles a foretaste of the brilliance of the Heavenly Glory, in which every human can participate eternally by becoming a part thereof. To achieve this glory, there is no question, but that all Christians should strive for their own transfiguration or let us better say transformation. To phrase it commonly, we may say that the transfiguration or transformation amounts to what we would call a spiritual renewal. And Lord knows how sorely this renewal is needed in our day! Also, how difficult it appears for people to achieve this renewal in the midst of a world, which has erected so many temples to the false gods, --- temples that are filled with materialistic worshippers, --- in a world, which has been literally enveloped solely by the things of this world, ---in a world, which has stripped itself of the true and lasting values, --- in a world, which has deified the intellect, and impressed by unbelievable discoveries, without these granting the desired happiness and fulfillment, --- in a world, in which the ego, and self importance annihilate everything that is supreme and noble. Whether people take time to think of it, or whether they disbelieve, experience proves, that there can be no real, lasting, and genuine happiness apart from God. We came from God, --- we must walk with God, --- and it is to God that we must return. God gave us a body; it was lifeless, until he breathed into it His breath of Life, which we recognize as the soul. Each of these, the body and soul must work in harmony with each other, and one should never become hypertrophic at the expense of the other. Unfortunately this does happen; and it happens at the expense of the happiness all humans desire. I often repeat that the material has outstripped the spiritual. And whereas, people seek and desire light, they find themselves living in, or groping with darkness. St. Paul, inspired by God, and knowing well the psychological makeup of mortals, calls for man's spiritual renewal, when he writes to the Romans 13:12: "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Rather a simple, but yet a most powerful admonition for people's spiritual renewal. I think the time has come, that people must finally take religion seriously, and to honestly strive to live consciously within its framework. It is our only guarantee, not only for happiness, but for safety and security as well. Living apart from religion, people have become overburdened by the endless charms and demands of this world, seeking to acquire, but have received the opposite effects and results. The Lord gave us the answer, and the cure for this condition, when He stated in Matthew 11:28: "Come all you people, who toil, and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest." As we know from the Scriptures, the Lord in His earthly ministry, usually ascended on a mound or a mountain to pray in seclusion. It was as if to tell us, to always look upward and seek to climb upwardly. Our life must be an ascent. Regardless of our trials and tribulations, we must always seek to climb toward the peak of spiritual perfection. People must make the decision to depart from the dark canyons and ravines, which see very little, if any, of the brightness of the sun, and commence their upward climb toward God. They must leave behind them the things, which would weigh heavily and would hinder their ascent, such as their ego, their passions, their weaknesses, their jealousy, their envy, their avarice and so many other evils that fill their life with sin, and weigh them down and buckle. People's mission should be an ascent to the mountaintop; nearer to God. We should make it a point to be in the presence of people, who kindle us for fine, heroic, Christian living, and who can be instrumental in leading us to the top. Our spiritual renewal, our regeneration can only come about, if we make the choice to pursue it. God grants us His Grace and strengthens us to follow life's course, but it is we, who must initiate the action. In the Gospel excerpt, which relates the miracle of the Transfiguration of our Lord, God the Father spoke from above the clouds and said: "This is my Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear Him." Matthew 17:5 These are the words, which every Christian should strive to hear, and it is these words, which we can hear providing we choose to walk along God's path. Amen. +Fr. George Back to Father's page
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