February 18, 2007

Transfiguration Sunday

Preparation for Worship

Then from the cloud came a voice that said,

“This is my son, my chosen,

Listen to Him!”

Luke 9:35

"Life is this simple. We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent, and God is shining through it all the time. This is not just a fable or a story. It is true. If we abandon ourselves to God and forget ourselves, we see it sometimes, and we see it maybe frequently. God shows himself everywhere, in everything – in people and in things and in nature and in events. It becomes very obvious that God is everywhere and in everything and we cannot be without Him. It’s impossible. The only thing is that we don’t see it."

Thomas Merton

Today is Transfiguration Sunday and, as such, is the last Sunday observed in the liturgical season of Epiphany. Transfiguration is a high point before we enter the somber and serious journey of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday. The choir continues to process in singing a hymn representing the movement of the congregation from the chaos of the outside world to the order of the worship service. During the season of Epiphany, the liturgist has made the call to worship from the back of the sanctuary much like a voice crying in the wilderness calls the faithful to worship. While some may find this voice from nowhere startling, we are reminded how God’s voice speaks to us in surprising ways and places. The light and cross once again lead us to the Lord’s Table. Transfiguration is about the light of God in Christ’s face, a light that will continue to shine on our Lenten path even as we walk towards the cross of Holy Week.

     The scripture lessons today describe both the transforming experience of Moses and of Jesus Christ during particular encounters with God. These experiences are reflected throughout the music chosen for worship today. The prelude reminds us that the God of Abraham is also our God today. Our processional hymn is expressive of the "invisible" nature of our wise and wonderful God.  The first anthem in the service proclaims the might and majesty of God, while the offertory anthem speaks of the beauty of our savior, Jesus Christ. Our service concludes with Boellmann's famous Toccata in which a principal theme emerges from a quiet beginning and "transforms" into a powerful ending.  The emergence of this theme well reflects the transfiguring experiences of Moses and Jesus.