The Face… For the Feast of the Transfiguration (Oops)

I guess I talked more about “The Case” for the second homily that I neglected “The Face.”  So, here’s a Sunday share about Jesus’ face.  Jesus manifested the kindly divine intent to welcome, heal, guide, and teach his obstreperous disciples.

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

To shine – lampo // Face – prosopon //

Isaiah 9:2             The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.

Psalm 42:1f              As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?

The wonder of it all – the three disciples saw Jesus’ face shining.  They didn’t die!!!

Exodus 33:19f               And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.   But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.”

His face shone like the sun – helios.  On the one hand, the sun “tests” disciples’ reception of the word, scorching away what has no root.  On the other, it shines on everyone. The sun’s light signifies the Day of the Lord that heals.

Matthew 13:5f                 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.  But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.

Matthew 5:44f                 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

Isaiah 30:26                  Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the Lord binds up the injuries of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

Finally, here the light of his face – phos – overturns the dire predictions of Amos, establishing light as that which shines on our pathways, teaching us to forsake war & learn the way of peace…

Amos 5:20                  Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

Psalm 36:8f                   They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Baruch 3:14                   Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, where there is understanding, so that you may at the same time discern where there is length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and peace.

Isaiah 2:3–5                   Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!