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Scripture |
Matthew 17:1-9 17 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
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Devotional |
The first activity Peter suggests is to build three dwellings on the spot. This will mark the spot of this mountain top experience so that it will be preserved forever. This is how a dwelling spirituality works. We would strive to capture God and build God a dwelling place so we will know where God is at all times. The spirituality of dwelling emphasizes habitation: God occupies a definite place in the universe and creates a sacred space in which humans can dwell; to inhabit sacred space is to know its territory and to feel secure. 1 This is what the Israelites did when they built the Temple . They provided a dwelling place for God. The destruction of the Temple and exile of the people forces them to choose another way or process of remaining close to God. The exiled Israelites were seeking a new way to worship God and they found this in the synagogue and scripture. They turned to a seeking spirituality. A spirituality of seeking emphasizes negotiation: individuals search for sacred moments that reinforce their conviction that the divine exists but these moments are fleeting; rather than knowing the territory, people explore new spiritual vistas, and they may have to negotiate among complex and confusing meanings of spirituality. 2 Jesus does not allow Peter, James and John to stay on the mountain. They seek God where the people reside. Jesus ask them lo leave the safe place at the top of the mountain and go among the people where they take risks and face danger. Jesus is preparing them for the final stage of their spiritual journey, the practicing spirituality. Practicing spirituality means that people engage intentionally in activities that deepen their relationship to the sacred. Often, this is accomplished over long periods of time, and one may devote a significant amount of energy and time to these activities. 3 Jesus begins to teach and prepare them for this stage of practicing their spirituality. They probably do not reach this stage until after the resurrection, but Jesus spends time preparing them. This is the journey Jesus prepares us for today but do we recognize the process? How do we respond when we are called to leave the mountain top? Can there be a true revelation of God that does not expose us to challenges as we learn more about God and ourselves? Can one know oneself apart for God? What is the connection between knowing God and knowing yourself? These are questions we do not need to answer when we are living in a dwelling spirituality. There will be no surprises as long as we keep God is the box.
1 Robert Wuthnow, After Heaven: Spirituality in America Since the 1950’s. Los Angles: University of California Press, 1998. p. 3 |