
Ang Iglesia Metodista . . . through the valley with Christ
"This one thing let us do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are ahead, let us press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14); crying unto him day and night, till we also are "delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious freedom of the children of God!" (Romans 8:21)
John Wesley, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, 1872
____________________________________________________________________________
02 MARXH 2014 TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY YEAR A
Exodus 24:12-18 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." 24:13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 24:14 To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them." 24:15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 24:16 The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 24:17 Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 24:18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Psalm 99 The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 99:2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 99:3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he! 99:4 Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 99:5 Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he! 99:6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them. 99:7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them. 99:8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 99:9 Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy.
2 Peter 1:16-21 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 1:17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 1:18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. 1:19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 1:20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 1:21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Matthew 17:1-9 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 17:3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 17:4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 17:5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 17:8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

The Holy Mount of Varallo Sesia
The Holy Mount of Varallo Sesia, Italy, is the first (late 15th century) of the sacred mountains of the Piedmont region of Italy to be established. Along the pathway leading up to the chapel at the top is a series of chapels, worked into the side of the hill. In these chapels are many life-sized freestanding polychromed terracotta statues, representing the life and mission of Christ.
This "holy mountain" has long served as a pilgrimage site, and it has been recognized by UNESCO and added to the World Heritage List in 2003. On this Sunday, as we contemplate Christ's transfiguration on another holy mountain, we can recognize the desire of pilgrims, both historical and contemporary, to stand in a "holy place." (http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu)
____________________________________________________________________________
As we journey on through the valley...with Christ, let us bring the books we read, the songs we sing, the reflections we write,
the pictures we keep and the people we love.