The Transfiguration

Mark Ch. 9 v1-13 - The Transfiguration.
Why did Jesus tell Peter, James and John not to tell anyone about the transfiguration they had just witnessed? This was a very personal revelation about Jesus - a private glimpse of the glory of the Word made flesh to very close friends. Like Lent itself, the transfiguration is only truly understood in the light of Easter. God's glory shone through the flesh and blood of Jesus on the mountain as a foretaste of what we can expect when we, transformed into the image of Christ, shine with that same glorious light. 
We too shall see Jesus as he truly is, and ourselves as we truly are.


Don't Tell.


Don't tell. 
I know you've just seen the most amazing things, 
But don't tell.


Yes, Peter, James and John,
You saw me on the mountain
Revealed among the brightest light
Of creation exploding into being;
Of being spoken into being
By the Word of God
Which, you are gradually coming to realise,
Is who I am.
But don't tell.


It's not that I don't realise
What a mind-blowing experience
The three of you have just had,
But, hard as it is
To pass up the chance to say you were there
And saw all that:
Don't tell.


Elijah and Moses, 
Both revealed as part of the story
Of God's revelation as I spoke to them there,
But both illuminated by my greater glory,
That must have appeared odd.
Very odd. 
And I can tell from Peter's embarrassed blurtings
About setting up three tents
That you don't really get it yet.
So don't tell.


It's not your fault:
There's an important bit of the story
Which hasn't happened yet.
So please, while you don't yet see the whole story
(Because it is still being told)
While you only get glimpses of who I am,
While you grapple in the dark, 
Awaiting revelation,
Don't tell.


Don't tell...
Until the Son of Man is risen from the dead
And the story is fully told,
Then you can tell


In fact,
Then you can tell,
Then you must tell.


Tell everyone.

Lent Meditation II

LENT

Lead into a far deserT
Encountering heaveN
Needing prayer alonE
To ponder future helL

A Lent Meditation I

I came away from the Ash Wednesday service at Ripon Cathedral with this, moved and inspired by the liturgy and by the words of Fr. Nick Buxton who preached tonight. Any theological oddnesses are most likely mine rather than his, however.




The Longer Lent


Ash Wednesday.
Waiting in line to receive and wear
An ashen cross. A sign
Of saying sorry, yet more:
Of meaning sorry, and knowing
Somehow, this is just the start,
A part
Of a longer Lent.


A Lent longer 
Than the forty days it opens.
Wilderness days of reflection,
Journey to death and resurrection.
Walk of faith, no more, no less
Significant than those other times
Of Jesus' life,
Part of the whole.


Incarnation, ministry, sacrifice,
First fruits of resurrection life -
These all and more are
Facets of the Christ
In which we glimpse His glory,
See the Father;
See what we, by grace
Might be transformed into.


This glimpsing, glancing, grasping at
An image never fully seen
Is in itself a Lent:
A waiting time
Of seeking God in prayer;
Of forgiveness, celebrated;
Of being marked by the Cross,
The sign of Christ.


A time of walking
Towards that Cross,
Towards that tomb;
Towards Easter,
Towards Jesus,
The dead and risen Christ.


That is the Christian journey:
The longer Lent.