My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!
I will awake the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples,
and I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens,
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. -- Ps. 108:1-4

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 they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. -- Mark 9:2-8.

Today we commemorate the Transfiguration in worship.  And so, especially since I am leading worship and preaching, I pray, "Awake, my soul!"  Let me be light and responsive to the needs of the congregation.  Let me minister to them.  Let me fish for people. 

In the Transfiguration we have again an identification of Jesus as the son of God by theophany, or the appearance of God, the Holy Spirit in speech.  We have also the testimony of the law and the prophets as to his identity, as that is what the presence of Moses -- the lawgiver -- and Elijah -- foremost prophet -- signify in this spiritual event.  And not only do we have the identification, we have the commandment, "Listen to him!" 

Jesus took James, Peter and John -- his inner circle -- with him to the mountaintop.  The world awaited the teaching of Jesus and it was to these men, these hand-selected disciples, that it was revealed.  Jesus Christ himself is the teaching.  These men lived with him and grew to know him intimately so that they could after his resurrection transmit the life of Jesus Christ to others.  And he is life, for who else can take away sin and promise new life in the new creation at resurrection? 

"Listen to him!"  We listen to him, the Word of God, through the Bible, the word of God, the best attestations of Jesus Christ that we have in history. We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers the reverent reader of the word, or the reverent hearer of the word proclaimed, to hear the very Word of God, Jesus Christ.  We also believe that God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, speaks to us throughout worship, in daily devotionals, in group Bible Study, through one another, through nature and through dreams.  "Listen to him!"  He speaks to YOU; he speaks FOR you; what he says is IMPORTANT to you; and he expects a RESPONSE.  Listen as if your life depended on it, because it does.

The Word can heal your wounds, and then it will empower you to help in the healing of others' wounds.  The Word would cleanse you from all unrighteousness so that through word and deed you can testify to the renewing power of Life in Him.  Awake, O your soul, and remember your Savior!  Do not fear to have God appear in your life and instruct you what to do.  Rather, look ahead to the shared adventurous journey toward eternal life.  Go forth and, listening to him, witness to him. 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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