HOW ARE YOU BEING TRANSFIGURED?

A cubist interpretation by Alex M., 3rd grader. Inspired by Picasso.. 

According to the lectionary, March, 6, 2011 is considered Transfiguration Sunday. The scripture section from Matthew where Jesus takes Peter, James and John to Mt. Tabor and there he is transfigured in the company of Moses and Elijah is replete with possibilities for life interpretation.
One way of looking at the narrative is its ability to relate the passing-on of the baton from the traditions of Moses and Elijah to the work of God that would occur in the lives of Peter, James and John who would become spiritual  leaders among the Gentiles.The transfiguration then could be described as something indicative of their unique time, an occurrence that looks both back and forward at a precise moment.
The cubist art interpretation illustrated here by a 3rd grader, Alex M. has the quality of both looking forward and back at the same moment. Inspired by Picasso who attempted in cubism to bring an expression of depth to an ordinary flat canvas, cubism also assisted in expressing the fractured nature of our selves. While we are all human, we each live in our time in a unique way, much transfigured by our experiences.

How are you being transfigured? When was the last time you had a moment in which you sensed looking both back and forward at the same time? What did it mean for you?

In the passages given below, the narrative ends with Jesus asking the disciples not to mention this occurrence to anyone until after his death and resurrection. Why?

Matthew 17:1-9
17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.

17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

17:3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

17:4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

17:5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"

17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.

17:7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid."

17:8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." 


Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line