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Sacred Selfies

It was one of those moments, you just had to capture in a picture!  There you were with your buds, on a mountain top, with the very One that you had proclaimed to be the Messiah.  Just a week before, Jesus had asked his comrades, "Who do people say that I am?"  And you, Peter, got it right, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Now, you are witnessing not only Jesus shining brightly in His Shekinah glory, but Moses and Elijah, the pillars of your Jewish faith are there as well.  They all are in conversation that you are hearing.   Your heart is pounding, you've got to save this moment of time forever, so your response is "let's build booths for all you guys!" Making shrines will keep this moment real, so Peter thought.

I had to chuckle as I read that story of Peter once again.  I understand why Jesus came at a time of no instant selfies.  I am sure if Jesus was to show up now, folks would be more interested in taking a selfie with Him, than being present to Him.  It's interesting how our world is captured today with pictures and videos, and posted in almost a frenzied pace. People seem only interested in viewing themselves.  It seems to be of more value to have the picture than to have the experience.


Yet sacred selfies are no more than shrines.  Objects caught in the past, essentially meaningless and without value, ultimately trinkets of a self centered society.  Jesus isn't experienced in tradition, in past memories, in stain glassed cathedrals, nor in Michelangelo's magnificent paintings.  The point of faith in Him is being in relationship with Him.  I can't capture it in a selfie, because God is so Other, so outside and above my finite mind and being.  To explain it well, I lack the words.  But like Peter, when I have those moments of glimpsing Him through his God given Word, I am amazed.  I can only bow before Him, His presence is so magnificent. . . 

"And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him."  (Matthew 17: 2-3)





 

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