What the Church Sees that the World Doesn't

Tomorrow is Transfiguration Sunday in the liturgical year.  The gospel lesson consists of Matthew's account of the transfiguration.  In the story, Christ is revealed to be God's Son.  It represents a climactic moment in Matthew's gospel

The significance of the transfiguration lies in its juxtaposition with the stories that precede it concerning who witnesses the event.  The transfiguration is not only not witnessed by all 12 of the closest followers of Jesus; it is only witnessed by the inner circle of the closest followers.  This exclusion was intentional on Jesus' part.

Transfiguration Sunday ends the season of Epiphany; the season of the year when we acknowledge that God's light is present in the world.  The story of the transfiguration reveals that God's true light is not visible to the causal observer, even the casual follower of Jesus.  God's true light only becomes visible when we truly commit ourselves to following the way of the cross, traveling up the mountain where few would choose to go.

God's light is present to the invisible community of the true faithful in moments where others would only see the mundane realities of the God.  God's presence is hidden from the casual observer, who would only see an empty field where treasure is hidden.  God's presence is hidden like a gold coin is hidden and only found through passionate and perpetual search.

The transfiguration story is an important metaphor for the Church.  The Church, if it is faithful, will see God's light through cultivating holiness and seeking to live according to the example of Christ.  The Church will even see God's presence in the crucifixion, where the world saw only an absence of power and glory