February 15th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Mark 9:2-9
 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Reflection
Have you seen the bright light shine through the candle? Perhaps the candle was inside a container with decorative colors. Have you seen the bright light of the candle shine through all of the colors of the candle container?

Have you ever sat in the dark and watched the light of the candle? That light appears, and is, very bright in the midst of the darkness.

Have you been to the homeless shelter and heard the stories told by the homeless and seen the bright light shine through the one speaking? Have you been to the prison and heard the dreams of a prisoner and seen the bright light shine through the prisoner? Have you been to visit someone in the hospital and heard the hope of healing and then seen the bright light shine through that very same person speaking as they lay in the hospital bed?

Have you seen the bright light shine through the one working at the food pantry? Have you seen the bright light shine through that person delivery Thanksgiving Baskets to the needy? Have you seen the bright light shine through the one serving at the soup kitchen? Have you seen the bright light shine through the one teaching?

Have you seen the bright light of Jesus at your door with Moses and Elijah and someone else? Have you heard the voice of Jesus invite you outside to play?

Have you ever thought of the light of Jesus shining through you? Shining through your flaws and sinfulness to make a beautiful array of colors to those who you see Jesus in you from the inside out?

We may not have seen a transfiguration like Peter. We may not have seen the Light of Jesus in the midst of the cloud as the Israelites witnessed in the desert.

But we can see the bright light of Jesus shine through so many people in our world today.

Look around and you will see the Light of Jesus shining. Look around and you will see the Light of Jesus making the flaws of this world beautiful. Look around and you will see the bright Light of Jesus making something wonderful from the inside out of a friend, a stranger, a fellow disciple.

Just look around and you will see the Light of the Transfiguration.

Look to the saving and gracious Light of Jesus and you will see life... eternal life. Life that only God could grant through Jesus.

Just look and see!

Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2QzIPx59I0
"Shine Through Me" Music by Rev. Michael Gott

Prayer
Lord, as I look to you each day, may your Light shine through me in all that I do and say... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen