The last Sunday after the Epiphany has Jesus’ transfiguration as its theme. Three disciples went with Jesus up a mountain and there saw Jesus shining in the glory that was his as true God. He spoke with two glorified saints, Moses and Elijah.
The Old Testament reading from Exodus tells how one of the two, Moses, was also radiant as a reflection of the glory of God, whose word he proclaimed. We are reminded that such borrowed or reflected glory is nothing like the intrinsic glory of Christ, Who is God the Son, and the source of all light.
The Epistle from Second Corinthians directs our attention to the light of the gospel. This reveals the glory of Jesus Christ. When we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, the light of the gospel shines into the hearts of men and gives knowledge of the glory of God. This shows the importance of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ so that God may be known in his glory.
The Gospel from Luke shows us the glory Jesus has as the eternal Son of God. This is glory we do not see now. The disciples saw it only for a moment. Peter wished it could have continued. But it cannot here on earth. This glory can be shared only the way Moses and Elijah shared it. That happens when Jesus takes us into eternal glory. What is important now is to hear the Word of the chosen One of God, the Lord Jesus. To him we are to listen.
While our text from the Gospel for this Sunday presents a fitting close for the Epiphany season, it also prepares us for the Lenten season which begins on Ash Wednesday. The topic of Christ’s conversation with Moses and Elijah was the “departure” of Christ which would take place in Jerusalem.[1]
[1]Wendland, E., Wendland, E., & Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship. (1999, c1982). Sermon studies on the Gospels : (ILCW series C) (electronic ed.) (114). Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House. (Revised)