Reach out to Jesus

Dear Friends,

This Sunday is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany.  Throughout the Epiphany season, we hear Gospel passages that help us to understand Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.  This Sunday, we hear the “epiphany of epiphanies", Jesus’ transfiguration.   In Matthew 17: 1-9, Jesus goes up a mountain with three of his disciples and Peter, James and John have a life-changing vision of Jesus suddenly radiating light.  A voice from heaven says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”  

This vision certainly reveals Jesus’ glory, but his glory is also revealed in the touch he gives his disciples who have fallen down on the ground in fear.  Jesus’ touch is so important in all of the Gospels.  His touch heals people.  It heals them physically, emotionally and spiritually.  In this Gospel Jesus touches Peter, James and John and says “Get up and do not be afraid.”  Jesus’ touch heals them of their fear and enables them to walk back down the mountain with Jesus to continue their work of healing others.  

Fear is a crippling emotion and we need Jesus’ touch to take us out of its clutches.  When we come together each Sunday, we are often carrying burdens.  Just being in church and being held by the liturgy is healing.  We feel Jesus’ touch when we hear the words of Scripture and something suddenly sounds like its meant especially for us.  When we exchange the peace, we experience Jesus’ touch in each other’s handshake.  Jesus touches us in the bread and the wine that we share in his name.  And often we feel Jesus’ love for us most profoundly when someone asks us how we are doing during a time of suffering.  

Reaching out to others is just as glorious as the mountaintop experience.  We need both.  

I look forward to coming together this Sunday to reflect on God’s glory in both its extraordinary and ordinary forms.  

Yours in the light of Christ,

Shearon+