approaching transfiguration

for the churches that use some form of the post-vatican ii three-year lectionery, these past few weeks have been touring the gospel according to mark's amazing chapters starting with jesus' return to his hometown where he "was amazed with their unbelief" and working towards the transfiguration, the readings for sunday. it is, i think, unfortunate that the lectionery doesn't follow all of mark's narrative, which is subtle and packed with meaning. instead, we will read luke's account of the events on mount tabor, and then go to john's sixth chapter to hear what he has to say about the bread that the twelve didn't understand when they were in the boat and jesus had planned to "pass them by."

that walking-on-water account is pivotal to the unfolding of jesus' identity and the disciples' recognizing it. some context: moses and elijah will be with jesus on the mountain; they are the ones who saw the holy one pass by, and recognized him. (one of the meanings of hebrew in hebrew and aramaic is one who passes by: see the gospel of thomas , logion 47). and of course there is that wonderful line in psalm 140 (hebrew 141) which in the septuagint reads "i am alone until i pass by."