Shrines

"Let's put up three shrines, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah," Mark 9:5.

So speak terrified men, when their ignorance overtakes their tongues. At any rate, Peter's wisdom (or its lack) led to those religious words. So what had happened? Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain. And then, Jesus morphs in front of their faces. And then, his clothes start shining blindingly. And then, Moses and Elijah, both prophets centuries long dead, show up to talk with Jesus. And then, fog rolls in. Scary times. Most of Jesus' work was doing doable (but rare otherwise) kindnesses with needy people. These gentle deeds got punctuated occasionally by sheer terror for his followers. So the bewildered in their fear just kind of made up stuff to say. And then, God's imperative radiates through the fog: This is my beloved Son; listen to him! And then, next thing you know, everything's back to normal, just Jesus and the three guys.

As we visit with a brother or sister today, rather than to invent religious talk, we listen with each other to the Son of God who loves us and died for us and lives for us. And, together, we give thanks for the Word that brings life despite terrors.