Transparent God [Transfiguration]

READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE:

• Exodus 34:29-35

• 2 Peter 1:16-21

• St. Matthew 17:1-9

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

To all of you who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who speaks to us today, saying,

“And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only”

 Transparency is the key to dissolving criticism, for if every move you made is out in the open, then there are no secrets. If something was wrong it will show up. If something was right it will be on display for all to see, as Jesus is today in His Transfiguration. 

 Transparency leads to accountability. As in, if everything is known, you are also taking responsibility for it, for everyone can then see what you did. This is why transparency is a campaign promise and nothing more. It is a great buzz word, because transparency produces trust. But since it also means responsibility, the promise dies on the campaign trail and never gets to the office.

 Jesus is the city on a hill, not any earthly institution. Jesus alone is covered in lights, transparent as can be in His Transfiguration. He is not see-through, but His purpose, intent, and identity are all on display today, out in the open. He is true God and true man. He has shone in the darkness. He has shown Himself to be as a flashlight in the darkness making both heaven and earth transparent and He is turned off when He points out what He was looking for, for you: Himself only.

 As it turns out, the whole of our Christmas and Epiphany season has been about the transparency of God. In fact, the word epiphany means “to be visible”, “to appear”, in other words to be able to be seen and known. God begins His transparency in creating the world, then giving the Commandments, and finally being made man to prove that true transparency in only found in God, not man.

From the historic Introit, Psalm 77, “Thy lightnings lightened the world”. Literally, thy “lightnings”, thy “glare of light” has epiphanied, become visible to the houses or dwelling places: the world. Which you could call “the world” as it is the only habitable realm in all of creation. This is what these words mean.

 This world of habitability, this household, is the Lord’s, says Psalm 24, and He has circumscribed His Word to it (Isa 10:23) in order to preserve it and rescue it. He has sent His Word out unto all lands (Ps 18:5) through men He chose. And yet even though His Word permeates all, He inhabits, or “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see” (1 Tim 6:16). 

 Some have portrayed God as hiding Himself or keeping secrets, because He is hidden and because He is infinite and we are not. Some have even accused Him of not existing simply because all they see is God’s opaqueness. And as we have just heard from 1 Timothy, He is unapproachable.

 Regardless, this Light shines on the world and graces us with His Law and lightens even the darkest mind with His wisdom, such that He will judge this world, this dwelling place, according to His wisdom and with the light of His righteousness (Ps. 9:8). And in a bit more of God’s transparency, it turns out that you are a dwelling place as well.

 A dwelling place that is supposed to house the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16). A shining city on a hill, not a light under a bushel. “Let your light shine before men” and “you are the light of the world” says Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:14-15. 

 And yet here we are, opaque with sin, doubting, unbelieving. Here we sit in the world that satan was hurled to as lightning (Lk 10:18). Jesus continues in Luke 11, “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is [transparent], your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness” (v. 34-35).

 Be careful, He says. Too late. Romans 7 tells us that what inhabits us is sin, darkness (v. 17). Sin that causes God’s transparency to become thick darkness, and lightning, and fire, as on Sinai (Ex. 19:16). Darkness that causes us to be lumped in with Lucifer and only appears right.

 But therein lies the epiphany, the lightning of Transfiguration. You see, when Jesus shines His light upon the world, His glare is pointed at us and the darkness scatters, leaving only Him standing as righteous and holy, because sin and corruption are destroyed by it. But, that sin-destroying, wrath-filled light is redirected to the image we see today. 

 Like a high-powered lazer set to “kill”, the light of God’s judging Law is focused upon Jesus. Jesus is illuminated. Jesus is captured by the prison-guard light of justice. Jesus alone is seared by the flames of God’s wrath in judgement upon this world. And Jesus alone takes the wrath-filled light, and changes it into Easter light.

 1 John 2:8 says, “…the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.” “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people”; “the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior” (Titus 2:11, 3:4). Salvation means that your darkness is passing away. Indeed, in the goodness and loving kindness of our Savior, it has already passed. For this salvation is for all the living, the whole world that this light has enlightened.

 Just as you have already passed from death to life in baptism, so has your darkness passed away. Though you retain your sin, it has passed away with Christ’s passing on the cross. Where Christ was raised, never to die again, sin has been razed, never to rise again. 

 You “outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Mt 23:28). This is the opaqueness of sin that God’s light settles upon. In the transparency of God, “you are God's temple and…God's Spirit dwells in you” (1 Cor 3:16) for, “light [has been given] to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide [your] feet into the way of peace” (Lk. 1:79).

 In Baptism, the evil spirit is cast out and room for the Holy Spirit is made within you. AS you commune with your Lord, the injuries and wounds from sin and death are patched up in light. In the Word and Sacraments, you are daily being built up into a holy temple, a royal priesthood for God.

 The Lightning from God has made the world transparent. That is, in His Light we can see the sins of the world and our own sins. It is apparent that God’s holy Light will scatter the darkness, even the darkness that is a part of us, leaving only light. Not such a pleasant experience, especially for those who love the darkness and love to throw around the word transparency, but mean the opposite.

 It has also been brought to light that God’s Holy Light will fall upon the Son, indeed is the Son Himself, Who sacrifices Himself and instead shines the light of forgiveness upon those who believe in Him. In complete transparency, God offers Himself, in order to reveal the true nature of the world and His true work of salvation.

 In this world, we will not find transparency, no matter how many times someone uses that word. With God alone is all transparency. There is no shadow, or darkness, or scheming with Him. He will not trick you, fleece you, or pull the rug out from under you. There is no secret code, or handshake, or password. There is no permit, paper work, or application. No interest, hidden fees, or penalties.

 There is only Jesus. Jesus Who saves Whom He wills and has mercy on Whom He will have mercy. How this is done and who these people are is also no secret. We clearly see His salvation for all people in baptism and weekly communion. 

 The Word and Sacrament are the transparentest things on this planet. There is no hiding water, anyone can find some. There is no hoarding of bread or wine. These means of the Spirit are so abundant, that no one can withhold or keep them from anyone. Secrets are hoarded on earth, but the way to heaven is open as the wounds Christ bore for you on the cross.

 In this world we deal darkly and with shadows. In the world of the Gospel all are known, even God Himself. For as He told us, after the lightning had passed, after the terrible light made known the darkness, after all the world had witnessed it, we lifted up our eyes and saw no one but Jesus only.