19^th February 2013

Introductory comment on icons: 

"[Jesus] is the image [Greek ikon] of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" Colossians 1:15

Icons are "pointers" beyond themselves, just as Jesus always pointed beyond himself to his Father. Icons have been spoken of as "a window on eternity", and as "a door of perception".

The Transfiguration of Jesus is found in Mt 17, Mk 9, and Lk 9, and referred to in 2 Peter 1. It is a miracle that occurs to Jesus himself, one of 5 milestones in his life along with his Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. (Featured:Transfiguration icon: Reference click here)

It is a pivotal moment for Christian teaching, because its occurrence there on the mountain is presented as
~~~the point where human nature meets God:
~~~the temporal meets the eternal,
~~~and Jesus himself is the connecting point,
• he is the bridge between heaven and earth,
• between this life and the next,
• between the inner spiritual person and the outer physical humanity.

The icon shows the apostles falling to the ground in fear.

Jesus goes to them, tells them not to be afraid, and then instructs them not to tell anyone what they have seen "until the Son of Man has risen from the dead". The apostles must have had a sense of overwhelming awe as well as alarm, but they were also questioning what this was all about, especially what Jesus meant by "risen from the dead".
The icon depicts the human response to this experience, without resolving the mystery, with which each of us too must grapple.

When we contemplate the icon itself,
• we see a rocky, mountain terrain. Location is not identified in the NT, though tradition associates it with Mt Tabor.

• Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the prophets, and their presence with Jesus symbolizes how he fulfils both in himself.

• the 3 figures are shown in equal size, which is important, but the figure of Jesus is central, the more striking of course, and he is represented beyond time and space, yet still part of the tableau on the mountain.

• colour is always significant in an icon's palette: blues are associated with heaven and mystery, indeed the mystical;

• green represents the earth's vegetation, fertility and freshness;

• brown is used for earth, or in clothing, holy poverty; red suggests life, vitality or beauty;

• and white is reserved for the divine world, for purity, and here, what the Orthodox call "uncreated light", the blinding, transfiguring light which dazzled the senses of Peter, James and John, and impelled them into a new revelation of Jesus' true divine-human nature.

• Peter was so deeply moved by the experience that he wrote about it in 2 Pet 1:16-18: "we were there with Jesus on the holy mountain...we heard the voice from heaven, we were eye-witnesses to his glory". The blinding white light left an indelible impression on his retina, and on his heart.

• Thomas Merton called these life-transforming flashes as "kisses from God".

• Ask yourself, "What in my life have I experienced as a "kiss from God ?"

When in my life have I suddenly understood something new and fresh in the Spirit's presence with me, almost like a blinding light, a flash of inspiration?

• The fullness of that glory may yet be beyond our eyes, but the bright light of the Transfiguration is a summons to journey in faith and commitment.

• ~~~~May it be so for each of us. Amen.

RJ Pryor 2012. Abbreviated version.