William Shakespeare wrote, “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
Chevy Chase once said, “I tell the person I won’t take a picture or sign the autograph, but I will shake their hand. That kind of personal touch is all they’re really seeking.”
Jesus was transfigured on a mountain. What jumped out at me through all the wonder, glory and transformation was that when the disciples were afraid, Jesus touched them. Unlike angels we find in scripture who just say, “Do not be afraid,” Jesus touches his friends first, then gives them direction to “get up.” Finally, he addresses their fear. Jesus the one basking in God’s glory, radiant like the sun, turns to his disciples and touches them.
Before we explore touch, I want us to look at these two dramatic and powerful passages. Both take place on mountains. In ancient time, mountains were considered a pillar of the earth, holding the sky in place. A mountain was like a bridge between the earth where humans lived, and the heaven the realm of gods. Hence God communicates through mountain top experiences with Moses and Jesus.
Clouds play a major role in both accounts. In Exodus we get a glimpse of the clouds meaning when, “God says to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after’” (19:9). God speaks through the clouds so that the people of God can know God is communicating, much like God spoke during Jesus baptism. When he said the exact same words, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” But then God adds, “listen to him.” God is validating Jesus once again but this time communicating to the disciples witnessing the transfiguration to listen and obey God’s Son.
We also see a parallel of six days: the cloud covered the mountain for six days, and six days later Jesus ascended the mountain. Of course God created the world in six days too, so something pretty important is happening. Also Moses stayed up the mountain for 40 days much like Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, a reminder as we prepare our hearts and minds for the forty days of Lent, which will start on Wednesday with our Ash Wednesday service.
Even in the midst of these similarities, let’s not be fooled. Moses had a moment with God on Mt Sinai and the people of God waited for him to return only to find his face shining like the sun. But there was only one transfiguration. One time that the glory of the Lord shone so completely in Jesus that his appearance changed. One time that God’s glory, the eternal divine glory, power, radiance, was made manifest for the disciples to witness. In this moment on the mountain, God allowed Jesus to shine so the disciples could see God dwelling in Jesus. They witnessed the incarnation; God dwelling within Jesus. Now of course God was, is, and will always be one with Jesus, but on the mountain these three disciples, Jesus’ inner circle, were privileged to see the fullness of God’s glory.
S. Lewis, the great theologian, and author of The Chronicles of Narnia writes about this in The Silver Chair. Aslan, a bold compassionate Lion who represents God says, “Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly. I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will thicken. Take care that is does not confuse your mind. And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearance. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters” (pg. 25-26). In the transfiguration God dwells in Jesus – so fully – the disciples could see God’s Glory.
“God prepares people in transcendent encounters to endure the world down below, the world of the cross, the world that has the ability to break us and yet is never beyond redemption. These encounters happen on mountaintops with blinding light for some. For most, they happen in the ordinary moments of our classrooms, boardrooms and soup kitchens- any place we make space for the Holy to be present” (Feasting on the Word, A1, 45-46).
Touch, human touch, can also be one of those places where the holy is present. Where we can make space for God and a moment is transfigured. Leo Buscaglia reminds us “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” In one of my previous churches, I remember visiting Marie in the nursing home. When I walked up she seemed lost and isolated. But after a time of talking, we could joke and laugh and once again she was filled with life. Somehow we always seem to get on topic of dating and she always had little pearl of advice- this one about letting the guy fall for you first because they are slower to become vulnerable in a relationship. But then the topic turned and I wanted to honor her long, wonderful and loving relationship with Herb her departed and beloved husband. I wanted to share there would never be anything to compare to what she already shared with him. Her eyes started to water, maybe at hearing her beloved husband’s name, remembering their love, or feeling the loss again, but I reached out to her and touched her hair, realizing my words had an unintended consequence. Touching her was the only way to convey my love and care when I accidentally resurrected a pain, instead of celebrating her blessed marriage.
Henri Nouwen the renowned pastoral theologian once said, “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand” (A Road to Daybreak, a Spiritual Journey).
Jesus did the same for his disciples. There they were witnessing a prophetic revelation, seeing Elijah and Moses and Jesus transfigured in radiance like the sun. What does Peter say first, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” No truer statement could be said. The transfiguration happened for the disciple’s benefit. It begins to give them the eyes to see God’s light in the chaos to come: the death, loss, fear and resurrection, the work of the early church. The challenge to the disciples is to live in a world without Jesus’ bodily presence. The transfiguration anticipates that challenge, inviting us to live in the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6)
But of course Peter had a different idea. He wanted to build a shelter, a dwelling to immortalize this God moment. So God breaks into this moment and declares who Jesus is and to obey him. Now they are really scared. They fall to the ground, overcome with fear. And who wouldn’t. So Jesus reaches out his hand and touches them. Maybe he helps them up, maybe he touches their shoulder, but he offers one of the most compassionate acts- the act of touching. Now the gospels tell us of Jesus touching other people but those touches have different meaning. First Jesus touches the children to bless them when they come to him. But all the other times Jesus touches someone is to heal or to restore life; the blind man, the deaf person, the one with leprosy.
Then two times Jesus’ touch raises a person from the dead; Jairaus’ daughter and a widow’s son. But here on the mountaintop, Jesus touches his disciples in compassion and love. In the fullness of God’s glory, the disciples receive the most precious gift of touch. For does anything banish fears more perfectly than a simple touch? For John Calvin, this was the great genius of God. God who made the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, God, whose we are, is so magnificent that God is willing to come among us, to reach out to touch us, and still our fears. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus’ hand on the shoulder of the disciples, is therefore nothing less than God’s own touch.
So on this day of Transfiguration let us remember that God’s touch is transformative, but we created in God’s image have that amazing power as well; to touch the people in our lives -Hug them, take their hand, wipe a tear, touch their shoulder and show forth God’s love. When you do you have no idea what God will transform through the majestic and humble act of human touch.
Let us pray: God of radiance, God of the prophets, God of creation we open ourselves to you this day to be touched by your transforming love. Touch us in our dark places with your luminous light, touch is in the struggles with your tender care, touch us in our conflict with healing that can only come from you. But touch us Lord so that we can have the courage to touch those in our midst, and so that you will transform their lives. Amen.
