The Gospel passage that we read and heard today follows immediately after the account of the Lord’s Transfiguration. And we cannot help but be struck by the painful, terrifying contrast between these two worlds. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Christ was revealed as Man in the full glory of His humanity, not only shining with the primordial grace of creation, but shining with that glory which we are all called to share, when God’s grace envelops us and we become like the burning bush—burning yet not consumed, shining and radiating with Divine light. And on that same mountain, the disciples saw the world, saw God’s creation as it could be, as it was, and as it will become when the Lord triumphs and the world shines with the glory of eternal life. They saw what the mystery of the age to come is—a transfigured world, enveloped and shining with God’s glory. It was good for them there, and they did not want to detach from this vision or lose this state. But Christ commanded them to leave the Mount of Transfiguration, to leave this vision, to leave this blessed state, and to descend into the valley.
And He did not send them there alone, but descended with them Himself, to immerse Himself in the darkness of earthly sinful life and to encounter all the darkness, all the horror of hell. When they came down into the valley, they were met by a man whose son was in the grip of evil, destructive, dark forces—the forces of death. And it was there that Christ called His disciples as well.
Is this not the very state that we sometimes experience when we are in church; it seems to us that all the tormenting, evil, dark, destructive things have receded far, far away, when our soul becomes light and peaceful, when joy envelops us, when peace descends upon us. It is good for us here; and sometimes it is painful and frightening to return to where we will encounter chaos, bitterness, fear, lack of love, greed—all that destroys life, divides people, kills souls. But we must remember that Christ gives us the vision of the uncreated, victorious beauty of eternity so that we may bring witness of it into the world, which is sometimes so bitter and so difficult. We must descend from this Mount of Transfiguration as Moses descended from Mount Sinai, with such light in our eyes, with such light on our faces, that people would look at us and not be able to bear this radiance, or, looking at us, see that quiet light of eternal life which dispels all darkness, brings peace and joy, hope and salvation. Let us think about our responsibility: how much has been given to us, how wondrous is what is given to us, how rich we are!… And when we leave the church, or when we detach from our home prayer because God calls us to something else, to service—let us remember what we must bring into the world: what light, what joy, what certainty, what witness. Amen.
митрополит Антоній Сурожский
LEAVE A REPLY