TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD February 15, 2026

Introduction to the Day:
We have shared a season emphasizing ways Jesus is revealed to us…the season of epiphany’s name connotes clarity, enlightenment even a “shining upon”. Now we use a far from every day word, “transfiguration” to describe another way in which Jesus is revealed…and maybe we’re a bit like Peter James and John….the experience leaves us flummoxed and afraid—so we listen to what Jesus says next….

Prayer of the Day
O God, in the transfiguration of your Son you confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the witness of Moses and Elijah, and in the voice from the bright cloud declaring Jesus your beloved Son, you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us heirs with Christ of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fullness, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! Matthew 17:5

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Sermon:
We need to know what happened six days before Peter, James and John travel with Jesus up a mountain. Jesus has told his followers that who he is, what he stands for and all he is about will soon get him killed. The empire and some in religious circles will find common cause to end him. Maybe the followers didn’t hear the next part about him rising from the dead. Can you blame them?

Do we expect Peter, James and John’s trek up the mountain with Jesus to clarify everything? At the summit, Jesus’ appearance might have reminded them of the story of Moses shimmering with the glory of God—and as if on cue, Moses and Elijah appear! Why? For whose benefit?

We might connect the dots because we have the advantage of time, distance and centuries of reflection—Moses and Elijah are liberators. They are also people who had to run for their lives because the powers that be wanted them dead…figuring that if you kill the messenger, you kill the message.

We know the effect all this has on Peter, James and John—those who might have known Jesus best are flummoxed over how to handle what they are witnessing. In the moment, Peter for reasons still debated (even between Matthew, Luke and other Gospel writers) begins to speak of building structures to house the holiness they are encountering.

And in mid-sentence, a voice from heaven interrupts. “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.” Perched where we are this is no surprise to us…we overhear the Gospel story when Jesus is baptized—the words reverberating from heaven are nearly identical. Not likely Peter, James or John were on hand the day Jesus was baptized and the Spirit descended like a dove. This time, the heavenly voice also says, “listen to him.”

Now the disciples go from twitter-pated to terrified! From here, the story is not one Peter, James and John are ready to tell. In the moment Jesus lays a hand on them and says, “get up and do not be afraid.” It could be that at this point in today’s Gospel reading we have the most in common with Jesus’ companions. We might think we know who Jesus is, yet we’re often confounded. We might wish he would intervene in our world on our terms. We might be afraid; not of God’s glory but of the enormity of human cruelty. We might fear for the future of the planet because those in power treat creation like a bargaining chip. We might fear for the safety and livelihoods of our children and their children.

Now the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. We call tell the story of Jesus radiant with God’s glory and standing in the company of Moses and Elijah— Each and every day we recall our baptism into the life of Christ, crucified and risen. Each day we live in anticipation of Jesus’ empowering touch and reassuring words to us and to the community of his followers in all places—“Do not be afraid. Get up. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”