The Second Sunday of Lent - March 4, 2012
Mark 9:2 - 6 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials[a]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. Peter wanted to build a memorial to commemorate the place and experience of Jesus' transfiguration. The human tendency is to freeze-frame significant experiences, take a picture of them or build a monument to them, and then try to replicate the experience in other times and settings . . . or constantly pull the picture out of our pocket to remind ourselves of what once was . . . or continually revisit the monument for re-li...