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Matthew 17:1-9

The Transfiguration: Jesus Shines

February 19, 2023

Transfiguration Sunday

Lectionary Year A

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ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

Good morning.
[Hold up one unlit candle]
Can you tell me what this is? (a candle!)
And what do candles do? (They burn/light up/are pretty/can smell good)
So...is this candle doing any of that that right now? (It’s not lighting up, but it might have a smell)
Why isn’t it lighting things up? (Because it has no flame; it needs to be lit)
How do I do that? [Inspect the candle] Is there a switch that I flip on? Do I squeeze it? Maybe if I shake it!? (No, you have to LIGHT it with something else)
Light it with something? Like a flashlight? (No, like matches or a lighter!)
Ooooh [pause and then bring out the lighter or matches]… Like this!? (Yes!)
OK – I’m going to light it to see if it works [light candle]

TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)

In today's scripture story, we hear about something other than a candle that lights up.
We heard in the reading that Jesus goes up a mountain with his disciples to pray.
And then, while he’s praying, Jesus starts to shine. Did you hear that part?
There’s this part in the story where it says that Jesus' face "shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white."
We even have a special name for this story. We call it the Transfiguration story.
“Transfiguration” is a fancy word that means "to be changed."
And in a lot of ways, Jesus in today's story and this candle here are a lot alike.
On its own, this candle cannot shine.
But, with a little help from a match/lighter, then the candle is changed, or “transfigured,” and is able to do what it's supposed to do: It shines light.
The same was true for Jesus.
Because Jesus keeps inviting and receiving God’s light and love into his life, then Jesus shines very brightly with God’s light and love.

SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)

Not only does Jesus shine with God’s light and love, but he also shares God's light and love with the people who are around him.
So, just like this candle can now light other candles [take second candle and use the first candle to light it], Jesus can help other people, like his disciples, learn how shine with God's light and love.
And then they can go out and help even more people shine with God's light and love.
The same is true for us.
As we learn from Jesus and his disciples how to ask for and invite God's light and love into our lives, then we, too, can share God's light and love with the people around us.
That is the Good News for today. Let’s pray.

CLOSING Prayer

This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God…

Thank you for Jesus…

…who receives your light and love…

…who shines your light and love…

…and who shares your light and love with us…

…so that we can shine with your light and love, too.

Thank you and Amen.

Originally posted February 22, 2014
Updated on January 20, 2023
Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia

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Supplies: Two candles (that are easy to hold and light) as well as matches (or a lighter)
to light the candle.

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