Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Transfiguration Sunday

Pastor Sue McNicol

Scripture: Matthew 17: 1-9   NRSVUE

17 ^1-3 Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.

• Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”
• While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”

^6-8 When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus.

⁹ Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t breathe a word of what you’ve seen. After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, you are free to talk.”

Sermon: Jesus Anew?

It’s the final Sunday of Epiphany, the season between Christmas and Lent. Or in Montana we refer to it as the season between dirty snow and teasing warmth. It’s a time for spiritual growth…the period of Jesus’ ministry and our enlightenment about Jesus. Its bookends are the Baptism of the Lord and the Transfiguration of our Lord.

So today is Transfiguration Sunday…a day when we hear a pronouncement by God about Jesus – “this is my Son, the Beloved, with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” Like the disciples, we’re asked to take notice. And take notice they did! Our scripture reading tells us amazing things were happening on Mount Hermon. Clouds enveloped Jesus, Moses and Elijah casting a shadow over them and God spoke…like really spoke, so much so that the disciples fell on their faces in terror. Jesus reassures them not to be afraid, and when they look up, only Jesus remains – and he looks different to them – radiant – bright – anew!

Here’s another image of the Transfiguration which provides us a visual ANEW.

It’s entitled Vie de Jesus Mafa (Ve da Jazu MaFa) - Life of Jesus Mafa- it was an initiative undertaken in the 1970s to help teach the gospel in Northern Cameroon. French Catholic missionary François Vidil

worked with Mafa Christian communities in Cameroon to create an enormous catalogue of paintings depicting the life of Jesus as an African man. The plan was to build a resource that would help Mafa people to teach from the bible in a way that connects with their community. It was a way to see Jesus anew! We often experience things in greater depth when we can relate to them from the perspective of our own life. Transformation takes place when something is made visible through new eyes.

My question to you this morning is this…who was transformed on that mountaintop? Was Jesus transformed, or were the disciples transformed? Who changed? Jesus’ life was converting and today’s scripture hints of changes to come. This was the period in which Jesus was standing on a bridge of sorts between his life of ministry and what’s soon to come – his death, resurrection and ascension. Things were shifting for Jesus. But I tend to think the lives of the disciples were shifting as well – they now had confirmation that Jesus was the Son of God and their lives going forward were to be forever changed. Jesus asks them to keep secret what they just experienced until after his resurrection. To remain faithful despite all sorts of strange foreshadowing and uncertainty. To believe in something anew!

I love the invitation to experience life anew…especially this time of year. I find myself attentive to the simplest of things – what time did the sun rise today? Did we just have a few more minutes of daylight? The frost on my windshield doesn’t seem so thick, tiny blades of green grass are appearing in the lawn along the edge of the house, fooled into growth by the warmth of the foundation. My perspective shifts. What I’ve experienced as the same for weeks or months on end, now has a different feel to it. One way to explain this transformation of perspective is simply to share with you some everyday examples. I’d like you to meet my furry nephew Ollie (as his clergy aunt, call him Ollie Lu - Al-le-lu-ia!). His fuzzy coat makes winter especially rough at times, but when he walked in the house with snowballs on his chin, we couldn’t help but snap this picture. It looks like he’s sporting some new front teeth. It’s all about what we see, and when we notice it. Here’s another fun example – after a night of heavy snowfall a few winters ago, the lawn flamingo was sporting a new look.  Here’s one more – while walking our Helena neighborhood in a blustery rainstorm, I was moved by this image of pigeons taking shelter on the side of an old church building. Notice anything? (see the cross?) A shift in my perspective changes everything. I notice my everyday in ways I’ve never noticed it before. Some call this practice of noticing things anew as mindfulness.

Perhaps Transfiguration Sunday is God’s invitation to us to be mindful as we enter the forty days of Lent. We’re to come down from the mountaintop and enter back into everyday life forever changed – just as the disciples did. Here’s a powerful image I want to share with you…it’s a gentleman lying on the ground, sleeping perhaps, with a bedroll and pillow. The sign next to him reads, “Once I was like you.”

Tell me what you see, who you see when you look at this image. Do you see an unhoused man, or maybe an immigrant? I see Jesus. I see the message of our scripture about the transfiguration. I see Jesus the way the disciples must have seen Jesus after they heard God’s voice proclaiming, he is the Messiah. After what took place on the mountaintop in that transforming cloud, Jesus must have felt like he now could pen a sign reading, “once I was like you.”

Transformations happen in varied forms. Some may be monumental like that of Jesus and his disciples. In our day a monumental transformation might be a calling to a new career or role – becoming a parent, leading a movement, unearthing a new discovery. But transformations happen all the time and we are changed – created anew – time and time again. For some it may be through spiritual experiences such as the Walk to Emmaus Retreat or youth CONVO. For others it may be the experience of new clarity and direction in recovery following addiction treatment. It’s as unique and personal as each of us. And for each of us it’s a gift.

I’m reminded of last September when our UMC churches in Butte and Dillon were invited to participate in the Attack on Hunger event hosted by Gold Hill Lutheran Church here in Butte. Jackie and Paulette volunteered to attend on our behalf, distributing quilts made by members of Grace UMC, and sharing snacks and smiles. I loved Jackie’s raw and real summation of the day…she told me she was reluctant going into the all-day happening, having had a long week leading up to the Saturday event. But after arriving, she was “transformed” so to speak. She described to me how she was blessed by the opportunity to spend time with neighbors in need and how she hopes to volunteer next year.

Transformations are not only seen, as in the radiant surrounding Christ in today’s gospel reading, they’re also heard and felt so deeply they become a part of our being. Who among us isn’t forever changed at our core by the words… “you’re now a grandparent” or “I forgive you” or “mom/dad I’m in trouble.” We are reminded this Transfiguration Sunday to take off our coat of armor and experience all that is in and around us. Give someone a hug – it may be precisely what they need to really know they are loved and accepted. Show someone you see them – look into their eyes with the warmth of Christ. Say what you feel – never assume someone close knows how much they are loved and appreciated…tell them time and time again!

My prayer today is this…Let us not linger too long on the mountain. May we go and bear God’s light to a world that longs for peace and healing. And may God open our eyes and walk with us anew today. May the love of Christ shine through the cracks in our armor making tender mercy visible to all. Amen