The Transfiguration story reminds us that Jesus was a person experiencing human moments of transformation. On that mountaintop, as his appearance changed and he conversed with Moses and Elijah, Jesus embraced his purpose and “set his face toward Jerusalem.” This pivotal moment teaches us that transformation and change are sacred parts of our journey toward becoming who we’re meant to be.
Like Jesus, we all face moments when we must look out over new horizons with both fear and longing. The speaker emphasizes that transgender people, too, are simply “people doing people things,” seeking transformation and understanding who God created them to be.
“Trans people are people who are doing people things. They are trudging up mountains with their friends to wait on the arrival of God and they are seeking transformation just like Jesus and just like the rest of us.”
Congregations also experience these moments of decision and transformation. The beauty of the Transfiguration story is that it shows us we need not fear losing who we’ve been while becoming who we’re meant to be. The past travels alongside us as we change—Moses and Elijah appeared not to hold Jesus back but to bless his journey forward. When we find ourselves in moments of transfiguration, moving toward unknowable futures, we can know that God is near.
