The Dance of Hiddenness and Disclosure

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Proper 13, the week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev, David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

28Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.

Today we celebrate The Feast of the Transfiguration, (See below.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings

AM Psalm 2, 24;  Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

PM Psalm 72;  Daniel 7:9-10,13-14; John 12:27-36a

David's Comments

The prophet said,  "You are a God who hides yourself."  (Isaiah 45:15).  At first glance, that might seem contradictory to the idea that God reveals Godself supremely in Jesus Christ, that in this life God's presence finds its fullest expression.  Yet, Jesus' life indeed was a unique dance between revealed and hidden, open and closed.  Jesus was and is the light of the world but a light that shined and shines just brightly enough to tease people into seeking more light.  The need to seek, to respond, to trust was and is not obviated by how Jesus reveals God to us.

In the moment of the Transfiguration on the mount, Peter, James, and John got a brief glimpse at what had lain hidden, concealed, compressed  within this human life--they saw the glory of the God of heaven shining through.  For a moment, the veil that concealed and limited the escape of heavenly light was drawn back.

In today's Gospel, Jesus prays for God to glorify God’s name, that is to disclose Godself and the divine nature so that people might see and respond.  Those standing around Jesus understood the concept of crucifixion differently (as an experience of humiliation and shame), and none of them were privy to what actually was transpiring that day between Jesus and God.  They would not see Jesus’ death as an act of glorifying God until after the resurrection made sense of it all.  Jesus was glorified through his death and resurrection--his true nature as God's son was made known and God's true nature as loving savior was made known.

Archbishop of  Canterbury William Temple, in his profound reflections on John’s Gospel, defined glory as "absolute love in perfect self-expression.”+ We certainly can nod in agreement that Jesus was just such perfectly expressed divine love. And,  in retrospect, we can affirm that the cross was the moment when that light of divine love expressed itself perfectly and shined the brightest.

What does this day say to us?  God wants us to know Godself;  God wants to disclose Godself to us,  but God will not overwhelm us with more light than we can receive or tolerate.  I find this staggering to receive; that God wants to know me and to be known by me in a personal way and  that God is seeking to disclose Godself to me.  Being a Christian does not involve me in some sort of guessing game or some sort of spiritual discovery quest that depends on my ingenuity or spiritual genius.  Jesus invites me to the "mount of transfiguration" each day to see more fully him and God as they are.

We also can see the power of retrospect here. Only after the resurrection, when Jesus’ earthly story had reached its zenith, would his followers more fully grasp the significance of the Transfiguration and so many other moments. We may well miss God’s glory in the moment and come to see that glory more fully having passed through a moment and reflecting back on it from beyond the viewpoint of its ending.

One final note. More often than not, the most profound moments where glory has shone through have been corporate, not individual. Those moments have happened in public worship, in conversation with others in the circle of faith, in a retreat setting—some form of communal life. This text narrates a corporate moment, Jesus, his followers and a crowd. Absenting ourselves from community closes off one of the primary avenues of approach from Spirit.

+William Temple, Readings in St. John's Gospel (First and Second Series) (London: MacMillan, 1947), p. 328.

Collect of the Day, Proper 13, the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 232)

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration.  For a descriptive note, readings, and prayers see the web link http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Tranfiguration.htm

Collect of the Feast of the Transfiguration

O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For Our Enemies

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 816)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Gospel

27 ‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ 30Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ 35Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’ After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer