Thought for the week Trinity 10 The Transfiguration

Early in the morning, together we went
to a quiet place to think and pray,
striding out to find where we could just 'be';
a good way for us all to begin a day.
The blue of the sky, the dew on the grass,
the calm of a mountain, quiet and still;
it beckoned us up and into the mist,
the air around was clear and chill.

A place to stop to stretch the eye,
the scrub below just dots of grey;
our friend moved away to be alone,
we settled to rest as best we may.
The mist swirled round, a clammy coat,
as sleep touches our lids - a peaceful doze,
But reality called and we woke to see
our friend shining white, even his clothes!
And he wasn't alone, two men were there;
we should shelter them- the mist is cold;
Unknown were they, yet known deep in our souls,
the men looked so young, but also so old.
Then a blink of an eye and they slipped from view.
Did we dream it, or see it? We couldn't be sure.
Our friend turned round, his face serene.
He'd been touched by God and that's for sure!
Then down we went, back to the world,
to the people, the rush, the heat and the pain.
An image of heaven, all shining and bright,
to return to again, and again and again….
JCH

(Luke 9.28b–36) 

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.  Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ Peter did not know what he said.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said,

‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’

When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.