Luke 9:28-43 (NRSV)
Read Luke 9:28-43 on biblegateway.com
Verse 28Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. Verse 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Verse 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. Verse 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Verse 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Verse 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -not knowing what he said. Verse 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Verse 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" Verse 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Verse 37On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Verse 38Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Verse 39Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. Verse 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Verse 41Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." Verse 42While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
Verse 43And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples,
Devotion
Verses 37 through 43 of Luke 9 are listed as optional for this week's gospel. But this amazing turn of events should most certainly be read on Sunday! A day after he comes down the mountain, Jesus is confronted by a man whose child is possessed by an unclean spirit that even the disciples cannot cast out. How often I've felt like the disciples must have felt. Called, commissioned, gifted and sent by virtue of my baptism, I am nevertheless so often ineffective. I fail at the very thing I'm called by Jesus to be. I've felt that feeling of failure, of incompetence, of wanting to run and hide in embarrassment. Jesus doesn't need to point it out - I know I'm part of a faithless and perverse generation! It's here that Jesus' identity - Messiah, Savior of the world - as revealed in the Transfiguration is vital. And that includes me.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, come to us today and meet us in our failure and brokenness. We try to be faithful, but our efforts fall frighteningly short. We need you to pick up the broken pieces we leave behind, to redeem the failures of which we are a part. Be our savior today. Amen.