{"id":395,"date":"2026-02-09T14:24:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/?p=395"},"modified":"2026-02-09T14:24:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:24:56","slug":"transfiguration-a-glimpse-of-hope-in-dark-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/2026\/02\/09\/transfiguration-a-glimpse-of-hope-in-dark-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Transfiguration: A Glimpse of Hope in Dark Times"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2026\/02\/Transfiguration-Jesus-alone.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2026\/02\/Transfiguration-Jesus-alone.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2026\/02\/Transfiguration-Jesus-alone-300x111.jpg 300w, https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2026\/02\/Transfiguration-Jesus-alone-768x285.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This week we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus. This is the pivotal moment in Jesus\u2019 ministry. The work of abundance and light in Galilee is over. It is time for Jesus to go to Jerusalem where he knows he will be executed. He invites\/warns his disciples that they must take up their cross in order to follow him. That is the journey of Lent we will begin next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things are about to get very dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus\u2019 disciples needed a glimpse of hope\u2014a glimpse of glory\u2014in order to make it through this dark time. The Gospel of Matthew (as well as Mark and Luke) tell the story of how Jesus brought Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain where Jesus stands with Moses and Elijah. Here the Law and the Prophets stand embodied next to Jesus. Once again, as it was at his baptism, the voice of God declares him to be God\u2019s son, the beloved, the one to whom the disciples should listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The epistle reading (2 Peter 1:16-21) is especially helpful for me this week. Peter\u2019s audience was suffering oppression. Times were dark for them, as they tend to be for the Gospel in oppressive political systems. Peter took his people back to the moment of Jesus&#8217; transfiguration for another glimpse of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>May the light of Jesus\u2019 transfiguration give us courage and hope through whatever dark times you may be experiencing this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us each day for Communal Spiritual Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monday Text Study on <a href=\"https:\/\/luthersem.zoom.us\/j\/98372966722\">Zoom<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tuesday Contemplative Practice in OCC Meditation Chapel and on <a href=\"https:\/\/luthersem.zoom.us\/j\/98372966722\">Zoom<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wednesday Service of Holy Communion in the Chapel and on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LutherSeminary\/streams\">YouTube<\/a>. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rev. Dr. Rolf Jacobson<\/strong>, Dean of the Faculty, Professor of Old Testament and The Alvin N. Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology, and Ministry, is preaching this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thursday Lunch Church. In person only. I will be leading a simple reflection on the transfiguration.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus. This is the pivotal moment in Jesus\u2019 ministry. The work of abundance and light in Galilee is over. It is time for Jesus to go to Jerusalem where he knows he will be executed. He invites\/warns his disciples that they must take up their cross in order [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-395","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized","7":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=395"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":397,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395\/revisions\/397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}