Transfiguration

From today's reading:  About eight days after Jesus had foretold his death and resurrection, Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.  And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.   Luke 9:28-29

This is one of the many times that Jesus goes off to pray.  We might have a lot of reasons that we pray - to ask for favors or blessings or healing, to thank God, to ask for guidance or clarification, to intercede for others.  The ultimate purpose of prayer is to place ourselves in the presence of God.  It is in His presence that we find comfort, peace, strength, power, and even meaning in life.  

As we come into the presence of God, he fills us with his Spirit.  As Jesus absorbed God's Spirit, his whole countenance began to glow with the radiance of God's presence.  This time Jesus had taken only Peter, James and John with him up on the mountain.  They were to be witnesses to his glory. Their immediate reaction was to want to stay there and worship Jesus - to build booths to honor Moses, Elijah and Jesus.  But Jesus tells them, "no."  

It is a reminder for us that although it's wonderful to be up on that mountain top, it is in the valley below that we minister and grow.  Blessed be the name of the Lord, and the Lord's annointed.