Vicar's View

‘There Must Be More to Life Than This’  

These words from Freddie Mercury of Queen will resonate with many of us, when we are looking to get more out of life, even as Christians. At a deeper level, we want to see and hear more clearly what God is doing in our circumstances. The Transfiguration of Jesus, which we remember this month, helps us to consider this issue (Luke 9:28-36). 

Jesus was transfigured alongside Moses and Elijah, ‘As He was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.’ (29). To understand our circumstances, firstly we need to see Jesus as God wants us to see him. The disciples’ eyes were opened to see Jesus’ divinity. The presence of Moses and Elijah confirmed him as God’s promised Messiah. By helping us the grasp who Jesus really is, this event powerfully calls us to entrust our lives into Jesus’ hands to experience his presence and power. 

Secondly, if we are to make sense of our circumstances, we need to hear what God says about his Son. A cloud covered them and ‘a voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (35).

God affirmed his love and call on Jesus as his beloved and chosen Son. Do we hear God speaking these same words to us? When we know that we too are loved and accepted by God, this transforms our understanding of our lives. 

Whatever our circumstances, they can be transformed by what we see and hear. Open your eyes to see a transfigured world. Open your ears to hear a transfiguring voice. Open your heart to become a transfigured life. 

‘No one who meets Jesus ever stays the same.’ (Philip Yancey) 

Canon Paul Hardingham