Mystery – November 17
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144
1 Macc. 3:42-60; Rev. 21:9-21; Matt. 17:22-27
Matthew 17 is full of mystery. The chapter opens with a hike up a mountain and the transfiguration of Jesus in front of Peter, James, and John. Jesus’ face glows like the sun and his clothes are radiantly white. Moses and Elijah show up and talk to him. Peter, ecstatic, offers to commemorate this amazing experience by erecting three tents. A cloud envelops them all, halting Peter’s brainstorming session; the booming voice of God says, “This is my beloved Son; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” The disciples hit the ground in terror. Jesus comes over to them in reassurance, “Get up and do not be afraid.” The group hikes back down the mountain; en route, Jesus commands that they say nothing about this fantastical experience until “after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead”.
The disciples do not ask questions to understand the ineffable encounter up on the mountain, or about what Jesus means about the Son of Man being raised from the dead. They ask why the scribes say Elijah must come first. The friends understand in Jesus’ response that it is John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for their teacher Jesus; the scribes of their day did not recognize or heed the messages John the Baptizer shared. Jesus tips his hat again to the hardship ahead: “the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands”.
The people in positions of social and political power concern themselves more with the rules Jesus follows, than the holy power that Jesus wields. Those in dire need do believe and approach him, calling for help. Jesus casts a demon out of the man’s son who suffers from epilepsy. The boy is instantly cured. Jesus follows up with his students, who had tried to vanquish that spirit without success: bulk up on your faith, friends. If you have faith, you can move mountains. Nothing will be impossible for you.
In today’s appointed piece from Matthew, we hear Jesus tell his friends that “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” This message bothers the disciples. Three of them were up on that high mountain and heard God say, “This is my Son, who pleases me. Follow what he tells you!” The whole group sees these miracles of healing happening around them, and yet their leader and teacher is going to be killed – and there is nothing they can do about it. Do they wonder if God will stop the persecution? How does their faith in God get buffeted by the hard messages of warning Jesus keeps issuing? As kernels of doubt and despair fester, perhaps the miracles and mysteries keep the disciples grounded in belief. The holy experience on the mountain. The healing of the epileptic boy. And, at the end of Matthew 17: a fishing expedition will yield a fish with a coin in its mouth, enough to cover the temple tax for Jesus and Peter.
Friends, there are days that we do not feel or see the mystery. There are hard days of loss. There are hard days of disappointment and disbelief. And then, when we need them, we have brushes with the divine. Let us share bulk up our faith by sharing our stories with each other. Let us revisit these stories of Jesus, our teacher. Let us walk in faith and know that the darkness did not quench the light of the Messiah. God is stronger than death. God brought about the redemption of the world. God brought about the inversion of sadness, reversing the death of his perfect Son, raising him from the dead, and lifting him into the heavenly realm.
It is a mystery. And that mystery is what breaks apart the dense fog in our hearts and opens us up to God’s love.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
Jesus and his friends experienced big life/faith experiences. How do you digest big experiences? Do you talk through them? Process internally? Write out your thoughts?
Daily Challenge
Spend a few minutes in Bible study today. Read Matthew chapter 17 as a whole. What images stand out to you? What messages do you need to hear from God in this piece of the Good News? What is God calling you to do today?