Beauty Marks Luke 9

The Transfiguration of Christ 2018 Beauty Marks Luke 9

Transfiguration Day Prayer

O GOD, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistering; Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty, who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

2 St. Peter i. 13. I THINK it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

St. Luke ix. 28.

AND it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

St Paul’s Cincinnati

Beauty Marks – Transfiguration – August 2018 - Charles Scott

Americans are constantly bombarded with announcements about the latest products; foods, make up, clothing, medicinal, medical and even surgical procedures that will make us beautiful.

Then, once we are beautiful, the media magicians will show us the way to beautiful homes, yards, automobiles, entertainments and vacation retreats where we can show our newly purchased beauty. Then we will be heavenly and admired, so they say.

After following Jesus around the Holy Land for 3 years, we can imagine Peter, James and John were a little worn out from the heat, the dirty roads they traveled and the assaults on them by the political and religious leaders who felt threatened by Jesus’ popularity. Even though Jesus healed the sick and comforted the sorrowing, not everyone was happy to see him.

Artists for centuries have rendered beautiful pictures of Jesus; stained glass windows have transfigured the carpenter from an ordinary laborer to a person with radiant beauty.

What was there about Jesus that made him attractive; that brought out so many crowds that the religious and secular leaders feared He might be the cause of a rebellion?

That question is as old as the history of Israel-Judah! David asked a similar question about himself and mankind as a whole in Psalm 8. Here is his prayer to God, a meditation, a conversation with God expressing David’s doubts about whether there is anything beautiful about the human race.

Psalm 8:

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

David wrote this either after he was made King or was on the way. When he looked at other men, and himself – he saw beauty in creation – but turning to himself and those around him, he asked in almost sarcastic way – what is man? Why God, do you even think about us? What are we compared to the stars, or even the animals and creation over which you put us in charge?