Transfiguration

Merriam Webster's online dictionary refers to the 14th century use of the term: Transiguration -- to give a new and typically exalted or spiritual appearance to : transform outwardly and usually for the better

Have you ever really looked in the mirror first thing in the morning? I'm talking about those first moments when you shuffle through the house (at my age most folks don't scamper ... at least not in the first hours) to perform those first necessary tasks. I'm talking about the moments when the mind and whatever gives your eyes a sparkle has not yet fully engaged and there is not much radiating from within.

If I look too closely at that reflection I may plummet to despair, thinking, Oh my... who is that? Or... When did that happen. Then I move a bit more... blood begins to circulate, breathing in the fullness of oxygen seems to replenish my inner being.... Even more importantly, I spend some time (as much time as possible) sitting before God in prayer, stoking the inner flame of faith, and light, and hope and love.

Most mornings if I catch my reflection after a couple of hours, things do look a little less frightening. Some of that, of course, is just the way things work with flesh and muscle and circulation....

But there is something else, much more essential that happens. My inner being becomes more closely attuned to God's movement ... In prayer, the rough edges of fear and pain, hardness of heart (and head) are all gently massaged...and the softness and flexibility has a profound effect upon the glint in my eye and the gentleness of my face.

It's not the "transfiguration" of cosmic proportions that we read about in this week's gospel lesson.... But it is the daily transfiguration that renders us and our deeds more capable of glorifying God and serving others as an instrument of His love. Perhaps that is more of a "mountain top" event than we realize!