Let me tell you about my first job- a busboy at Perkins Restaurant. I was proud to be paid and where a uniform but was soon humbled after dropping a tray full of dirty dishes in the middle of restaurant, dealing with a cranky customer or banging my head on one of the wrought-iron chandeliers.
Let me tell you about Peter the Apostle’s first job in the Church. In Matthew 16, Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God (v.16). Jesus then gives to Him the Kingdom of Heaven (v.19). Right after this, Jesus says I’m going to Jerusalem to suffer and be killed. Peter rebukes Him saying (v.22), ‘Wait a minute, I’m kind of in charge now (keys) and this is not going to happen.’ Jesus then says to Peter (v.23) “Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
What does this have to do with the Transfiguration, where Jesus reveals His divine glory to Peter, James and John as God the Father’s voice is heard while Moses and Elijah suddenly appear? From all the scriptural accounts we know that the Transfiguration of Jesus, the Feast of Glory, takes place shortly before His Crucifixion, the Feast of Suffering. In this sequence we have one of the paradigms in the Christian life: Glory before Suffering. The glory of God gives meaning to suffering. In the early Church the Transfiguration was celebrated near the beginning of Lent, 40 days before the Paschal Resurrection Liturgy. For many centuries now, the Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated on August 6th which is 40 days before the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross on September 14th.
In the Kontakion Hymn of today it says, “You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, showing Your disciples as much of Your glory as they could bear, so that when they see You crucified they will know that You suffer freely, and they will tell all the world that You are truly the radiance of the Father.”
For us weak, imperfect humans, seeing the glory after the suffering would be too late. If this were the case, we would sink in despair or be lost in confusion. Thankfully, God gloriously reveals Himself to us in mountain-top experiences to inspire us, to encourage us, to energize us. One of my own came twenty years ago at the Greek Orthodox Retreat Center near Cheyenne, Wyoming. It’s too long of a story to recount here and now but there is no question that God revealed Himself that day to several people including myself on the peak of Snowy Mountain Range.
Hiking or climbing to the top of a mountain requires much effort. It’s not like riding an escalator or a ski-lift. Likewise, seeing God requires discipline and purification. It’s no accident that the major feast days throughout the church calendar are associated with fasting. Today’s Feast falls within the Dormition Fast. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (Beauttitudes) Fasting helps bring our body and it’s passions under discipline. Once the passions are under discipline, the purification of our soul and body can occur. If you want to see the glory of God, you must be willing and try to give up inglorious vanity and sin.
We love these types of events so much that we want them to continue forever. The Apostle Peter said as much when he rebuked Jesus. What’s this about suffering and death, I’ve got the keys, we’re going to have more miracles, preaching and healing. He also does it today on Mt. Tabor. After Peter sees Jesus’ face shine like the sun and sees Moses and Elijah next to Him he says (v.4), “It is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make three tabernacles.”
In other words, we’re going stay here for a long time, right?
We cannot stay on the mountain forever, we must come down,
down even into the valleys of the shadow of death (Ps. 23). Glory before
Suffering is not a dead-end street though. Glory before suffering leads
to more glory as we are perfected in this life. As St. Paul says in Romans
5:3-5 “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces
perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope
does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” We are perfected in
hope and love through this cycle of glory before suffering.
Peter, James and John were afraid after hearing the voice of God the Father. Jesus reached out and touched them saying, “Arise and do not be afraid” (v.7). Don’t be afraid of whatever suffering is in your future. Some of you are suffering and hurting right now. Jesus is reaching out and touching you saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, I’m with you. I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there. Believe in me. Follow me and you also will be raised in glory.”