Our Holy Orthodox Church is such a blessing and light to the world, reminding us of what is important, navigating us towards reality, directing us to focus on things that are from God.
Our church is constantly inviting us to make love our aim and to desire the spiritual gifts as we celebrate two life-changing feast days in August: the Transfiguration of our Lord on the 6th, and the Dormition of our Holy Mother of God, the Theotokos, on the 15th.
The Mystery of the Transfiguration
When we stop to pray and contemplate Christ's Transfiguration, we are encouraged to know that as Christ revealed His glory to His apostles, He wants to reveal Himself to us. It says in the Apolytikion, "insofar as they could comprehend, they were able to see Jesus."
Our calling, our aim, and our purpose is to have a deep relationship with Christ and to truly see and know Jesus to the best of our abilities. The gospel of John 17:3 says that "Eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ."
When we are in relationship with God, we can better know ourselves and one another. As Christ becomes transfigured in our life and as we climb the mountain with Him, we too will become transformed, restored and alive. We too are vessels of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul clearly tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit?"
The Transfiguration of Christ reminds us of our true nature as being created in the image and likeness of God! Our true aim is to become whole, to become free—which means to become Christ-like. Elder Thaddeus gives light to this idea: "We humans were created in the image of God. Humankind was given a great gift that God's energy, His life and light is within us, yet we don't realize this."
Jesus tells us in the Gospel of St. John that He is the Light of the world! Christ bestows this same mystery and grace upon us as witnessed in the gospel of St. Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."
I liken this mystery of transfiguration to the phenomenon of photosynthesis. When a plant or tree naturally does what it does—receive carbon dioxide and light—it co-creates with God and actually changes the elements into oxygen. In like fashion, we too must receive the light of God through His word, through prayer, through His sacraments, through His abundant grace, and co-create with Him, offering the world that Light of Christ and becoming transformed into vessels of love.
Living the Transfigured Life!
Let's make it our goal and desire to be open to God's grace! Let's make it our aim to become partakers of divine nature, desiring to become transfigured into instruments of His peace. Let us all strive to be willing to sow love when there is hatred. Let's offer faith when there is doubt. Let us demand from ourselves to be bearers of hope in the midst of despair. And finally, let us shine light in the midst of the darkness!
Like a plant offers oxygen to the world, we too are given the opportunity to reflect a holy and divine life which can change the world. Elder Thaddeus says, "Our thoughts, moods and desires set a path for our life. Our thoughts reflect our whole life. If our thoughts are quiet, peaceful, and full of love, kindness and purity, then we have peace, and this peace provides inner peace which radiates from us!"
St. Anastasios of Sinai offered a sermon on the Transfiguration of Our Lord that helps us understand the power and importance of our Holy Church. Here is an excerpt:
To become baptized is not an obligation, to go to church should not be an obligation, to fast is not an obligation, to pray should not be an obligation, to follow God's commandments is not an obligation, receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is not an obligation... none of these beautiful practices are obligations! We are not required to do any of these things... these are all gifts for us... they are opportunities to change, to become whole, to become real, to become transformed. They are opportunities to be transfigured, they are opportunities to become Christ-like and be united and closer to God! They are opportunities to satisfy our thirst and to return to the Garden of Eden, giving us the power to live in peace..."
Let us wake up and commit ourselves, and one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God! Blessed Transfiguration!
Blessings,
+Fr. Tom
Originally published in the Holy Apostles E-bulletin. Subscribe here.
