One of the beautiful images that I have of winter is when there is a fresh fallen snow and you wake up in the morning, the snow is pure white, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and on that clear bright snow it’s so dazzling it almost blinds your eyes. It’s a beautiful image of a lovely winter morning. 

Today we are given an image that we don’t want to miss in this reading. That is this image of the clothes of Jesus becoming dazzling white. Because radiant white is always a sign of divine presence. Not only do we hear that moses and Elijah speak with Jesus, but they speak to him about the great exodus that he is going to accomplish in Jerusalem. And moses, as we know, was the leader of the first exodus. He led the people out of Egypt and brought them into deliverance from the pharaoh. 

Now Jesus will go out of Jerusalem and he’s going to lead his people to the fullness of a new freedom, one over sin and death. Something happens here on the mountain and it helps Jesus know what his next steps are going to be in his mission. Jesus goes up the mountain to pray. He’s given a clear sign that he is guided by God in his choice to go to Jerusalem. A cloud, another sign of God’s presence with the Israelites as they went out of Egypt. A cloud now overshadows Jesus and a voice reassures both Jesus and the disciples who Jesus is and that his decision to go towards Jerusalem is the right choice. And of course we know what happens in Jerusalem. 

Friends, this is a beautiful and powerful story, the transfiguration, and it’s drawing back the curtain on the blindness of the disciples to reveal the glory that sustained and guided Jesus. It’s also a guide for us. 

But what does that mean for us? Even when we may feel alone, we’re not because we’re all connected as the children of God, as disciples of Jesus. On the day of our baptism, we became the beloved sons and daughters of God. 

Now friends, there’s not a cloud that will appear here at mass today. There’s no voice from heaven that we can expect to hear. However, here is Jesus in the gift of the eucharist and the gift of our community over these airwaves that bring us together in faith, in hope, and in love. If you feel discouraged or fearful about tomorrow, if you’re feeling uncared for and alone, pay close attention to the good news today. And if you’re not feeling any of these things that I mentioned, but you’re content and at peace, pay attention as well. Because the message is we, you matter to God and we are not alone. 

So whatever place you may be in today, spiritually, emotionally, physically, ask God to shine light into that place. A light that will help you to trust that God is with you so that you can always find peace and joy, trusting you are not alone.