Reflection for March 19 – Kate Heichler

Today’s Passage from The Bible: Mark 11:20-33

In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Then Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea”, and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

‘Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’ 

Again, they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’

Reflection – Kate Heichler

In this passage, I meet Jesus as one who is comfortable with his authority.  We see in the first part Jesus’ authority over even the natural world, as he and his disciples see a fig tree he had cursed (not my favorite Jesus moment) has now withered and died. Jesus uses their astonishment at this miracle as a lesson for how to pray in faith – believing what you pray for has already occurred. That is really praying with authority – and in my experience can only “work” when we know we’re praying for what God already intends to accomplish. That’s what it means to pray in God’s will. 

And, he says, we cannot fully pray in God’s will if we are unable to forgive people who have hurt us. In fact, Jesus suggests that there is something about our inability to forgive that can impede the flow of forgiveness toward us. That’s authority of another kind. 

As Jesus and his followers come into the temple courts in Jerusalem, the question of authority comes up again as he is interrogated by religious leaders. “By what authority are you doing these things?” They will never believe it is by God’s authority, so he cleverly reverses the trap and refuses to answer. But it remains a good question for us: are we doing anything as Christ followers that challenges the authorities of this world, the natural order? Are we healing, proclaiming, making peace and justice in such a way that others might ask us, “By what authority are you doing these things?” Are we comfortable with the amazing authority we hold as followers of Jesus, members of God’s household, inheritors of God’s promises, presence and power? 

Reflection for March 18 – Kathleen Jackson

Reflection – Mark 11:11-19

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard it.

Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, ‘Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? But you have made it a den of robbers.’ And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Reflection – Kathleen Jackson

I found Jesus, as presented in this story, hard to relate to at first glance. Through the Gospel, to this point, Jesus has been generally loving and kind. Certainly not anyone who could turn over tables and cause disruption!

I decided to meet Jesus here as if I were Mary Magdelene. I imagined I was present when Jesus rode into the city on a colt, greeted with “hosannas” and recognized for who He was. I saw Him curse the fig tree. And now, I witness Him enraged, turning over the tables and sending all who misused this temple scattering. I see Jesus, fully human, fully divine, stepping into His Glory and full of anger.

What I see is equal parts terrifying, glorious, and holy. How do I, a mere human, meet my Rabbi, my friend, in this moment? I imagine He comes to me afterwards, emotionally spent, needing to talk. I can meet Him by offering to hear Him. And what I hear is a Son, deeply offended by the human abuse of His Father’s House of Worship. He sees a perversion of worship and it hurts.

I learn that anger, despite being troubling, can be a righteous and effective tool. Jesus undoubtedly knew the vendors would return and the den of thieves would be restored. But His actions become a statement of His love for His Father and ultimately, His Love for us. Like a parent frustrated by a child’s bad behavior, He knows we can do better. As our Lord, He commands it. As our Savior, he enables it.

What we say, what we do, who we lift up, matters. No prayer goes unheard. Our love for each other and our righteous indignation send out positive energy that God will not waste.

REFLECTION FOR MARCH 16 – Mary Kercher

Today’s Passage from The Bible: Mark 11:1-10 

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” 

They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said, and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

Reflection – Mary Kercher

Palm Sunday is always such a joyous occasion. We gather outside with our palms that have been blessed and everyone loves the cute little donkey decorated with flowers as we sing and wave our palms processing through the streets of LaPlata just as the people in Jesus’ day sang “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” 

As a tenth-grade English teacher, I was assigned by the curriculum to teach Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar every year. The part that always got me was how the crowds welcomed Caesar home, singing his praises. Then after Brutus killed Caesar, these same people were so easily persuaded that his death was necessary. The crowd mentality is so easily ready to be on the popular or current political side. 

Where will you be on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday of Holy Week? These are times to look inward and see who you are in relation to your God and His Son, and to gain a closer bond to the One who loves you so much, He was willing to die for that love. 

Lord, help us to walk with you through Holy Week and discover new insights about our relationship with you. Amen. 

REFLECTION FOR MARCH 15 – Kirk Vandezande

Today’s Passage from The Bible: Mark 10:46-52

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So, throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. 

Reflection – Kirk Vandezande

As a teenager, I tried to poke holes in sermons and expose clergy as hypocrites. Funny how it goes. The harder I worked to humiliate clergy; the more God revealed Himself to me through their responses.

When I reached college, I declared a showdown.  Dropped the gloves.  Challenged the Almighty to show Himself and I would affirm my commitment, or else to leave me alone so I could pursue the idols of many freshmen students. He sent Wil Bingham, my college chaplain. Wil looked the loser to most students. Wil’s self-conscious bumbling made students squirm. By Week Three for three years, Sunday service was down to Wil and me and one or two other students.

Funny how it goes. Week Three of my first year, I was looking for the door, too, when Wil mentioned a high-altitude retreat called a Search for Christian Maturity, an October weekend at timberline in a hand-built cabin with a cathedral ceiling, a salvaged pipe organ run on gasoline, heated with coal. Billed as a Christian “woodsie,” it was Cursillo for college students, though I did not know it then.

The Holy Spirit showed up. Afterwards, I asked Wil to teach me to pray. He gave me scripture readings and a weekly appointment. Again, the Holy Spirit showed up and I learned to see existence through bifocal glasses. There is the conventional world we commonly accept and there is evidence for those who look that the Holy Spirit is on the move.

No doubt you know the saying, Seeing is believing. Spiritual vision is the inverse: believing is seeing.  The more I pray, the more I see answers to prayer. It happens too frequently to be coincidental, though I have no complaint when people around me see matters differently. I would rather be judged a loser, like my mentor Wil, than to give up looking for the Holy Spirit on the move. Like ol’ Bartimaeus, I am waiting and watching for the moment when someone says to me, ‘Take heart; get up, He is calling you.’

None of us has all the answers. We are all blind beggars, but as Christians we have the divine privilege to tell other beggars where to find a warm meal.  Until the moment comes that we are called home, may we be found faithful.

See you on the other side.

Reflection for March 14 – Kirk Vandezande

Today’s Passage from The Bible: Mark 10:32-45 

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So, Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 

Reflection – Kirk Vandezande

Mark’s narrative pivots at the Transfiguration. Jesus sets his sights on Jerusalem, His death and resurrection.  Three times Jesus foretells his resurrection to the disciples: first while walking down the mountain (Mk 9:9), then on the road to Capernaum (Mk 9:31), and in today’s reading, on the road to Jerusalem (v 33).

How did Jesus’ message go down with the disciples?  The writer tells us (Mk 9:32) “they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.” In our Lenten discipline, as we read scripture by snapshots, we are like the first disciples: at risk of missing the big picture. Miraculous healings attract our attention while, like the disciples, we read past the central theme: Jesus is going to Jerusalem where he will be mocked, beaten, and killed.

In a Canadian coming-of-age movie* set in 1960s Manitoba, an unorthodox Orthodox Rabbi is given the honor, as a newcomer, to address the annual multi-faith Brotherhood dinner. He tells this joke:

Now, Cohen got a telegram from his son. ‘Papa, I’m going to Jerusalem. I’m going to become a Christian.’ Oy, vey, he didn’t know what to do. He ran to Greenberg; he told him the whole story.  Greenberg said, ‘It’s funny you should mention.  I got a telephone call from my son, he said he’s going to Jerusalem, he’s gonna become a Christian’.  What to do?

They went running to the rabbi, they told him the whole sad story. The rabbi said, ‘Funny you should mention.  My son’s going to Jerusalem, he’s going to become a Christian, and I’m a rabbi!  Imagine how ashamed I am.  What to do? We have to pray to the Creator, we have to rend our clothes, we have to put ashes on our head, fast for two days.’

Two days later, the gates of Heaven opened. The voice of the Creator came down and said, ‘My children, what can I do for you?’ And each man told him that his son was going to Jerusalem to become a Christian.  Then the voice of the Creator boomed out, ‘Funny you should mention… ‘

Do you spot a common thread in all these reactions to Jesus’ dreadful mission?  They all miss the plot.  The answer to life happens around them while they are doing something else.

As we journey through Lent to Easter, now WE are the disciples on the road to Jerusalem. Of course, we know better this time around, don’t we?  We know how the story ends so there is no way WE can miss the plot, right? No WAY we get caught up in jockeying for places of honor or denouncing those who are not one of us or turning away from Jesus’ passion in favor of any distraction that keeps us from attending to its horror.  Right?

I walk through Lent with dread and look to Easter with as much horror as hope.  I always have. May each of us be transformed by a faithful Lenten observance.

*The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick (1988)

Reflection for March 13 – Joanie Daniels

 Today’s Passage from The Bible – Mark 10:17-31

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.” 

He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’

Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’ 

Reflection – Joanie Daniels

This passage talks about a trait I personally struggle with. A wealthy man wants to get into heaven and Jesus says, “Sell or give away everything you own, then give the money you make from the sale plus whatever you have in the bank to the poor.” That’s tough when I’m sure, like the wealthy man, I take pride in my accomplishments that are manifested by my home, my possessions. Do I have too much pride in my material things? Do I serve my possessions, or do they serve me? This could become a bad episode of Hoarders.

Where I encounter Jesus in this passage, besides reminding us that through our possessions we may have our priorities wrong, he also highlights that having possessions could hold us back from entering Heaven. Why would that be? Abundance and self-sufficiency aren’t necessarily a hindrance, but they often can become one – if we don’t have the right mindset. That’s why Jesus said what we give up in this life, we’ll be repaid a hundredfold in the age to come.

Reflection for March 12 – Sandy Hixson

Today’s Passage from The Bible: Mark 10:1-16

He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ 

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Reflection by Sandy Hixson: 

“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’

‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

This passage is dear to my heart. When Jay and I were at the altar to be married, we heard the passage that whom God has joined together let no one separate. After 51 years of marriage, I feel Jesus has been with us every step of the way. There are so many times I think I can finish my husband’s sentences and he can do the same with me. It’s like we are one person. There is always give and take in our lives. And as one, we know that each of us must give a little to continue to be one.

Reflection for March 11 – Danielle Webber

Today’s Passage from The Bible – Mark 9:30-50

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

‘For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.’

Reflection: Danielle Webber

Jesus, Peter, James and John come down from the mountain to see the remaining disciples arguing with the scribes. Despite their experiences dispelling demons earlier, the disciples cannot rescue a possessed child.  Jesus tells them that the entire situation is marked by a lack of faith and a neglected prayer life.

I have so much in common with the disciples. I cannot begin to count the times that I have tried to handle life’s trials and tribulations on my own. But even many more times, I have seen God’s healing power at work in the world.

In these remaining twenty verses of the chapter (9:30-50), Jesus is still teaching his disciples. He tries to explain that first, he must be killed and raised again. Unable to comprehend what he is saying, the disciples cling to the belief that Jesus will rescue Israel and install a new kingdom, and they begin vying for an important position. Jesus tells them that leadership is not about power but service to those who are weaker. This point is expanded further when John tells Jesus that they tried to stop a man who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he was unknown to them. Jesus explains that the fact that the man had enough faith to call on His name proves that he is not an outsider, even if the disciples do not recognize him. This is great news for the Gentiles!

Because of this, I not only see Jesus in this passage, but in the world around me. I see him in our garbageman, Steve, who will get our trashcan from the top of our driveway if we forget to bring it down. I see Jesus when my students help and encourage each other in class.

Reflection for March 9 – Kirk Vandezande

 Today’s Passage From: Mark 9:14-29

Then they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ Someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.’ He answered them, ‘You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ And they brought the boy to him.

When the spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!’ After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.’ 

Reflection – Kirk Vandezande

Yesterday we read of Jesus with two witnesses, Moses and Elijah (the Law and the Prophets) when a voice from the cloud says “… my beloved Son, listen to him!” and Jesus tells the disciples not to speak of what they have seen until after He rises from the dead (v 7-10). Today, we read of Jesus arriving down the mountain to a crowd around his disciples absorbed in a lively debate with some Jewish keepers of the law (scribes). We do not get the answer to Jesus’ question, “What are you arguing about?” before a father interrupt’s to ask for healing.  Perhaps they were arguing how Jesus could possibly be the Messiah. 

Imagine yourself in this scene. How does it sound, feel, and smell? What is your emotional reaction as you overhear a father politely ask “if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us?” I hear several different groups, each clamoring for something from Jesus each is convinced is impossible to them. The disciples want clearer directions to do their job right (“We can’t do it.”). The scribes want to be right about theology (“You can’t be the Messiah.”). The father wants Jesus to heal his son of an evil spirit (“If you are able.”). Each wants something from Jesus. Is anyone listening to His responses?

“All things can be done for the one who believes (v 24)” and “ … only through prayer (v 29).” Jesus tells his disciples to seek the Kingdom by prayer, trust in God’s providence, and open their eyes. Prayer, faith, and witness. 

Is our own faithless generation missing what is right in front of our eyes? Are we trapped by unbelief, rehearsing what we hold to be impossible by our modern wisdom, only hoping to encounter the Kingdom after we die?

In this scene, I hear Jesus warning the time is short.  So let us take Jesus at his word. All things can be done for one who believes. Prayer, faith, and witness. May the living God be near us. May the love of God be in our hearts and on our lips. May we be found faithful as His Kingdom breaks into our reality. May we see the Holy Spirit powerfully alive in each other. May we be the church, the hands and feet of the body of Christ, to all people, without ever asking first who is worthy.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Reflection for March 8 – Danielle Webber

 Today’s Passage from the Bible – Mark 9:1-13

And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. Then they asked him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ He said to them, ‘Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.’

Reflection: Danielle Webber

Peter, James, and John join Jesus on the mountain for a leadership development workshop. There Jesus is transfigured.  The disciples are terrified to look at him. Then, Elijah and Moses meet Jesus on the mountain, and God affirms that Jesus is his son. After Elijah and Moses leave, the disciples ask Jesus about Elijah because the rabbinical teachings say that Elijah will return at the end of the days.  Jesus explains that Elijah has already come.

This event should have revealed to the disciples that Jesus is God, but they are more confused than ever.  A lot of the time I am just as confused as the disciples. Why do sad and upsetting things happen to me? But in the midst of these sad and upsetting things, I see glimpses of God at work and my confusion is lessened.