Lin Weeks Wilder

Lin Weeks Wilder

Christianity, faith, peace, Prayer, Writing

It Is Good For Us To Be Here

it is good for us
It is good for us:Transfiguration of Christ on the San Ranieri gate of the Cathedral St. Mary of the Assumption in Pisa, Italy on June 06, 2015

It is good for us to be here: Transfiguration

The three men-ordinary fishermen- are invited by Christ up to the peak of the mountain to pray, we are told in Luke.

The Transfiguration is the last miracle performed by Christ marking the beginning of the end of his days on earth. For many days,perhaps weeks, he has been warning his disciples that the Son of Man will suffer and in 3 days, rise.

Imagine it.

Peter has already declared his knowledge that this man Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah,

but his mind, like ours, has trouble grappling with a man, known to be of human estate, divine.

The three accept the invitation to “come pray with me.”

Once at the top, Peter, John and James fall into a stupor or semi-sleep and are startled awake only to see this man transfigure in front of their eyes- they witness him in his glorified state, so white, so light, so pure they must cover their eyes.

And there on either side of Jesus, they see the prophets Elijah and Moses and then hear a voice like thunder:

“This is my beloved son, listen to him.”

“It is is good for us to be here,” declares the master of understatement, Peter. The most confusing of the apostles; one moment, Peter seems enveloped in divinity and the very next, such a sinner that Christ refers to the man who will lead his church as Satan. A paradox, precisely like you and me…

We are told that Peter says this because he “does not know what he is saying.”

But I wonder…what words could be uttered by anyone at seeing such a vision? At witnessing the Glory of God with one’s own eyes? 

What phrasing could possibly fit this experience? Can you think of even one word?

It is good for us to be here.”

Yes, Amen, Peter. Jesus saw clearly the simplicity and purity of your heart, your soul, and your mind.

Each year, on August sixth, the Christian church celebrates The Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, each year we are reminded of our mission, our destiny: To transform and become Him… seeing, feeling, thinking-and loving-like Christ. 

Impossible. 

Alone.

But


Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Gospel of Matthew:
19:16-26
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Lin Wilder

Lin Wilder has a doctorate in Public Health from the UT Houston with a background in cardiopulmonary physiology, medical ethics, and hospital administration. 

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