The Day After

Yesterday was Transfiguration Sunday. We read about Jesus and three disciples (Peter, James, and John) climbing a mountain to pray. While they were there, Jesus , Moses, and Elijah all appeared in glory. Peter was hoping to stay on the mountain, but instead, they left the mountain and returned to the crowds.

As our pastor was reading the passage from Luke (Luke 9:28-36), I began to wonder what the day after the Transfiguration would have been like for Peter. He had had what we would certainly call a Mountain Top experience, and he had wanted to stay there. Instead, he was back to the crowds, the people wanting help, and the demands of every day life. Was he strengthened in faith by what he had seen? I hope so.

Think about your own mountaintop experiences. What is the next day like? How can we keep the glory of the mountain with us in every day life? How can we know that God is near in the every day? Maybe there are clues in the passage:

1. They went to the mountain to pray. Prayer is one way to remember we are always close to God.
2. They heard a voice from the cloud say, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" We can hold that statement close in our hearts. We can read what Jesus said, and listen for the proddings of the Holy Spirit.
3. The passage said that the disciples kept silent about what had happened. I wonder if they talked about it with each other. It is good to share our faith - to remember with those who have had experiences of God's presence.
4. They got to work, didn't they. Jesus didn't send them off the mountain. He led them off the mountain. They got to work with Jesus.

It's hard to live the life off the mountain, but that's where life is, isn't it?