Close Encounters of the Holy Kind
Each
time I read or hear the account of the transfiguration in Luke’s Gospel (9:28-43a, NRSV), I wish
I could ask the writer a question. “Well,” I would say, “which was it? Were the
disciples awake or asleep when Jesus had his chat with Moses and Elijah?”
It
sounds like the writer was not sure. He says they were awake, but immediately that they were heavy with sleep. But they do see Jesus blazing with light and
conversing with the two most prominent prophets of the Hebrew tradition: Moses
and Elijah.
By
the way, I totally identify with the plight of the disciples in this story. There
they are, so tired from trekking around after Jesus that they can hardly keep
their eyes open for a most glorious event to transpire in front of them!
As
one who falls asleep at her computer with some regularity, I am completely
sympathetic! But I wonder: How often do we miss one of God’s very special
moments because of weariness or everyday distractions?
