"Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white." Matthew 17:1-2

This Sunday is the last Sunday before Lent and in most Protestant churches it is the celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus. I have to admit to being a bit confused yet intrigued by this scripture account. Jesus is with his friends and suddenly he becomes filled with and surrounded by light.If that isn’t enough, Moses and Elijah show up at his side.  Now Peter in his usual over-the-top way wants to mark the moment by building a home right then, right there. Then the story gets really interesting. A bright, shining cloud covers them and the voice of God says:’ This is my Child, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased;listen to him!" After all this, what does Jesus do? He tells them not to tell a soul. Yeah, right.

I thought about this story today as I was listening to Louise Erdrich’s The Painted Drum while driving in my car. I am taking a small break from news and other radio broadcasts and listening to books of CD instead. In this there is a description of two sisters, very different from one another. While catching fireflies as children, one would carefully catch and guard the magical insects in a jar,feeling somewhat apologetic for holding them hostage. The other sister was known to take the insects and squish them all over her body and then dance in the moonlight so she could glow.

That image, of this glowing child dancing in the moonlight, reminded me of the transfiguration of Jesus. I cannot in my wildest imagination explain what happened to him. But I can imagine the glow of another human being. I have seen it. Haven’t you? Often, when people are newly in love, they glow.Children glow with excitement at the sight of a small animal they long to touch. I have watched a new mother and father looking at their baby with such joy , they are glowing. I trust that as people saw me with my two precious sons, they saw a glow that transformed my face.

While Erdrich was of course telling a story, I think she touched on something very important. We all want the opportunity to glow…to be so bright we cannot be missed…to shine like the sun….to throw our arms out and spin with our skin, our eyes, our smile sending brilliant rays into the world. Don’t we all want to be transformed by something or someone to the point that we glow?

In addition to glowing, I believe,we also want to hear the words: "This is my child, my beloved. I am very pleased with you." We want to hear it from our parents, our grandparents,our partners, from our friends, our co-workers, our children. And mostly we want to hear those words from the One who breathed and birthed us into being, the Holy One.

My prayer is that this weekend will find you glowing and watching for glimpses of the shining companions with whom we walk upon this Earth. And may we each hear the voice that will remind us once again that we are, indeed, beloved.

Have a wonderful weekend……………………