"HOLY PRESENCE"
“Holy Presence” Luke 9:28-36 03/02/2025
Have you ever experienced God’s holy presence in your life? Maybe it was a moment of deep peace, a feeling of awe, or a time when you felt truly connected to something greater than yourself. Many of us have had experiences like these, and that’s part of why we’re here today, worshiping God. In Hebrew, this experience is called shekinah—the real, tangible holy presence of God.
Today, as we think about the Transfiguration of Jesus, we get a powerful example of shekinah in action. In today’s gospel lesson, we read about an incredible moment when three of Jesus’ disciples—Peter, James, and John—witnessed Jesus being transformed on a mountaintop. Before we dive into that, though, let’s think about the season we’re in right now.
Today is the last Sunday of Epiphany, the season when God revealed Godself to us through Jesus Christ. Jesus makes God’s presence and love clear in a way we can understand and relate to. Without Jesus, God might still seem distant, and we wouldn’t know God as well as we do. It’s through Jesus Christ that we meet God face to face.
Now, let’s focus on the story of Transfiguration. Before this moment, Jesus had told His disciples that He would suffer, be rejected, and be killed, but He would rise again after three days (Luke 9:22). The disciples didn’t really understand what He meant. They were confused and struggling to grasp the weight of what was to come.
This moment is a turning point in the Gospel. Jesus, knowing the pain, suffering, and death ahead of Him, goes to pray. He needs strength, just as we do when something important is about to happen in our lives. Prayer can be a source of strength when we face big challenges.
Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to come with Him to the mountaintop. While Jesus prayed intensely, the disciples fell asleep because they were tired. This is something we all struggle with, isn’t it? How often do we get distracted or tired and find it hard to stay connected to God?
Then something amazing happens: Jesus is changed before their eyes. His appearance becomes dazzlingly white—so bright no one could ever make clothes this white. In that moment, the disciples saw the glory of God. This light was the shekinah—God’s presence made clear to them. Moses and Elijah, two great figures from Israel’s history, appeared and talked with Jesus.
When the disciples woke up, they were amazed and confused. They had seen a glimpse of God’s glory, but they didn’t fully understand it. Peter, overwhelmed by the moment, suggested building three shelters—one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah—so they could stay there in that holy moment forever. But the Bible says Peter didn’t know what he was saying.
When we experience something powerful and life-changing, we often want to remain in that moment. Those moments are meant to change us and help us grow spiritually. Then, a cloud appeared, and from the cloud, a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to Him” (Luke 9:35). When the voice spoke, the disciples saw only Jesus. Moses and Elijah were gone. The moment passed, but the lesson was clear: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He is the one God sent to complete God’s work in the world.
This story is not just for disciples; it’s for us, too. We are invited to seek God’s holy presence in our own lives and experience shekinah for ourselves. In our busy, distracted world, it’s easy to miss these holy moments. But, like the disciples followed Jesus to go up the mountain to meet God, we too need to make time with Jesus to encounter God. These moments might not always be dramatic, but they can come in the quiet of prayer, during our true worship, in the kindness of others, or in a deep sense of peace in our hearts.
These moments are precious. We should look for them and seek them out. Just as Jesus was changed on the mountaintop, we are called to be transformed, too. We are called to be holy, just as God is holy. In a world that often forgets about God, we are reminded to listen to Jesus, to love Him, to follow Him, and to be changed by Him.
But the mountaintop experience isn’t the end of the journey. After the disciples saw Jesus’ glory, they had to go back down the mountain and return to everyday life. Life on the mountaintop wasn’t meant to last forever. Jesus didn’t stay in the glory of the Transfiguration; He went back to teaching, healing, and serving others.
The same is true for us. Our holy moments are meant to strengthen us for the work we’re called to do in the world. We’re not supposed to stay in these moments; we’re meant to take them with us into the world, where there is pain, suffering, and brokenness. Just as Jesus came down the mountain to bring healing and hope, we are called to bring the light of God into the valleys of our lives.
As we begin the season of Lent this Wednesday, I encourage you to look for holy moments in the weeks ahead. Look for the places where God’s presence feels real to us. Spend time in prayer, worship, and reflection. And when you experience those holy moments, remember that God is strengthening you to go out and share God’s light with others, bringing hope to a world in need.
May we experience God’s holy presence in our life, and may it transform us. Amen.
