Glimpsing Glory

In Anglican churches tomorrow, the Sunday before Lent, the gospel reading is about the Transfiguration of Jesus. You can read Luke's version in Luke 9: 28-36.

The story describes a 'mountain-top experience', a high point of wonder and awe as God gives Jesus' closest friends a glimpse of who Jesus really is. Then they have to go down the mountain and through the hard places, to the point where eventually all sense of glory completely disappears and they are plunged into the desolation of the cross. There is a reason why this story is read just before Lent. It is rich food for the journey - it takes a lot of chewing over in an attempt to digest what it means.

I'd like to share with you a poem that has helped me in thinking about how the Transfiguration fits into the whole story of Jesus. 5 years ago, on her blog 'what the tide brings in', Ann Fontaine published a poem on the Transfiguration. I love it so I quote it in full below or you can read it here.
Tiny star 
of morning.
Born in the 
smallest of stables
spreading from manger
to shepherds
to magi
to beloved
to teacher.
Expanding out
into the universe.
Calling everyone and everything
home to the heart of love.
Transfiguration reveals
what was always there:
A supernova exploding
into our hearts and minds.
Now we feel the black hole
tugging pulling dragging us
into that heart
in our journey through Lent
to the fullness of Easter.


For previous posts on this theme see
Glimpse of Glory
Awestruck
Awesome
Transfiguration



Comments

  1. A beautiful poem that does bring home the point of the 'mountain' quest. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting. I love the way the poem provides a bridge from the birth stories through to the hugeness of the Easter message.

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