A reflection for Sunday 14th of February

Today we have this classic tale that we call “The Transfiguration”. Our Lord takes his inner cabinet of Peter, James and John up the mountain and there for a moment the veil is lifted and they see The Master as he truly is in all his dazzling glory. Moses and Elijah even pop in for a nice cappuccino and all is right with the world.

Much is made of all the loveliness of this perfect moment and thats right. It’s a terrific experience and once in a life time it might just happen to us.

But what we don’t know in this story is what was being said on the way up the mountain. What were Peter, James and John chattering about? What was Jesus teaching them? Perhaps they were reflecting on how Simons mother in law was keeping, or how Zebedee was doing in the fishing trade or their suspicions about Thomas, or what a great guy Judas was and where the couple at the wedding at Cana were living now.

My pet theory.. is that it wasn’t as interesting as that. I reckon they were just having a bit of a whinge as they trudged ever upwards. Why did Jesus ask them to come up this hill? Why us? And Peter, how come you forgot the water bottle and James you're no better for forgetting the bread and olives for morning tea. And boyo isn’t it hot and aren’t the flies despicable.  And.. the age old question “Are we there yet?” Sound familiar?

Tedious, everyday banter complaining about the human condition and the drudgery that so often overtakes our thoughts, our hearts and our lives.

And then the veil slips away and this other world is revealed to them. Suddenly, somehow, they slip into that other dimension and it is indescribably heavenly. Any attempt to stuff this experience into the English language can only mangle it and so it is better not to and just let the experience speak for itself, if in fact that is what experiences do. Maybe they just are and that is all they need to be.

Now these two worlds, the world of tedium and the divine are often thought to be two quite different worlds and they never collide or overlap. But what if that is not true?

What if our whinges and our complaints and our mutterings are just as authentic in prayer as those little moments when all is serene and joyous? In God’s eyes, and that is how we must always try and see it, is one somehow better or less regarded than the other?

The  heartfelt mutterings of a 6 year old for great gran to get better, compared to the weeping ‘Have mercy’ by the alcoholic, to the wise old nun whose been singing  the psalms for 52 years and 4 months. Aren’t all valid prayer moments?

So while we might smirk and belittle James, Peter and John,  perhaps they weren’t so far off the mark after all. Doesn't that mean that there is hope for us in our flimsy prayers no matter what form they might take.

But there is a deeper chemistry going on here and perhaps a story to finish with might help.

Shane was an aspiring lad who badly wanted to study medicine at Melbourne Uni. His folks were proud of him and everyone said that he would be great. He had superb people skills and would always be there to help someone no matter what the need was. He studied diligently for the year 12 score that would enable him to get in. And guess what? He failed to get the right number of marks. He was gutted! Absolutely devastated. So he goes to the University of Queensland to study physiotherapy. He must leave his home, family, part time job and pursue something which was and would always be only his second choice.

However it is on the campus of the University of Queensland where Shane meets the gorgeous Melissa who is just as besotted with him.

The future has rewritten the past. Shane’s grief is transfigured into unexpected joy. The past didn’t change. It’s not as though his disappointment never happened. Of course it did, but the icky is transfigured into something he could never have dreamt of.