Grace Cathedral

Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99:5-9; 2 Peter 1:13-21; Luke 9:28-36

Today, as the Church invites us to remember the Transfiguration, we’re reminded that encounters with the truth can be overwhelming.  The light that shines on Moses as he converses with God, the light that transforms Jesus from a beloved friend and teacher into a being streaming with glory — a light that still shines on in Peter’s memory as a lamp in a dark place — they can be dazzling and disconcerting to us. We fumble for the right response.

The unfolding of God’s glory happens on a scale so much larger than the human, it’s not surprising that Peter wants to confine it to a nice set of side-by-side shrines. Yet the truth is already moving onward, down the road to Jerusalem. That destination is grim, but the journey will continue past it, to a new place of radiance. 

As we celebrate the baptism of beloved children today, we know that their growth will be terrifyingly fast, and parenting them will shine a powerful light on all that’s glorious and all that’s difficult in our lives and our world. We hope that parents and caretakers will hold to their hearts the truth that we are all loved beyond reason and understanding. If our response is to meet that love with love, it may be clumsy, but it will never be misplaced. 

Carol James has been part of the cathedral community for over a decade. She has served as a co-mentor in the Education for Ministry program. She currently leads the evening prayer providers in the Jail Ministry and is a cathedral staff member.