Kahu's Manao

Transfiguration Sunday
‘Ōpūkaha‘ia Sunday

Sunday, February14, 2010

The Rev. Kealahou C. Alika

“Astounding Glory”
Exodus 34:29-35 & Luke 9:28-36

We began the season of Epiphany on January 6th by commemorating the baptism of Jesus. It comes to an end today with the Transfiguration – an event in which Jesus undergoes a metamorphosis or transformation.

When he was baptized at the river, a proclamation was heard by Jesus – “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) On the mountaintop a similar proclamation was made but it was directed to Peter, James and John – “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.” (Luke9:35) What was spoken at the river is now proclaimed on the mountaintop: Jesus is the Son of God.

Lori Brandt Hale, Associate Professor and Director of General Education at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota has written the following: “The transfiguration of Jesus is . . . “about the divinity and glory of Jesus.” But it is also about being aware of the power and authority that is conveyed to Jesus through the law and the prophets and about Jesus’ impending death as he prepares to return to Jerusalem. (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 4, Bartlett & Brown, Westminster/John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 2009, page 452) Its purpose was primarily for Peter, James and John.

Moses and Elijah, whose presence represent both the law that was given at Mt. Sinai to guide them in their relationship with God and to one another and the prophets who reminded them of the law, are seen by Peter, James and John speaking with Jesus. Of the disciples, Peter is uncertain what to make of this remarkable occurrence and so he suggests that three dwellings be built to honor Moses, Elijah and Jesus.

But Peter is cut short when a cloud comes in and overshadows them. The proclamation that is made that Jesus is the Son of God begins to make sense not while they are on the mountaintop but when they come down from the mountain.

That becomes especially clear when they come down from the mountain and encounter a child in need of healing. (Luke 9:37-43) The other disciples fail to heal the child.

When Jesus healed the boy “all were astounded by the greatness of God” that they saw in him. (Luke 9:43) Peter, James and John are reluctant to tell anyone what they had seen that day on the mountain. They keep silent. But they were also able catch a glimpse of life in the reign of God that is to come.

While Jesus was praying the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white. (Luke 9:29) This same image of God’s glory is also found in our reading from The Book of Exodus. (Exodus 34:29-35) Moses’ face shone with the reflected glory of God after receiving the Ten Commandments. His brother Aaron and all the people saw his shining face and knew that God’s word was with Moses.

The stories of Moses and Jesus on the mountaintop became an eventual source of strength and encouragement for those who followed. To Moses is given the covenant of the law, a covenant meant to provide the people with ways of living more faithful lives. To Jesus is given the covenant of love, a covenant meant to remind us that where law and love or compassion abide, there is justice.

Today is not only Transfiguration Sunday; it is also ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia Sunday – a day when we commemorate the death of a young Hawaiian man whose life inspired the first Christian mission to Hawai‘i in 1819 and who himself became a source of strength and encouragement to many others who followed.

Ōpūkaha‘ia was orphaned at the age of 10 when his family and all of the people of his village were killed during the wars of Kamehameha the Great. Following the deaths of his father, mother and brother, he was raised by his uncle, a high priest from Napo‘opo‘o, to become a priest himself.

Around the age of 16 ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia left his training and sailed away on an American trading ship. His travels eventually ended in New England. It was there that he became Hawaii’s first scholar and the first Hawaiian to convert to Christianity.

He planned to return to Hawai‘i himself, but contracted typhus fever and died in 1818 in Cornwall, Connecticut at the age of 26. In his memoirs it is said that on the evening before his death a Rev. Mills came to see him. (Memoirs of Henry Obookiah, Edwin Dwight, Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands, Hawai‘i Conference – United Church of Christ, Honolulu, 1968, page 95)

‘Ōpūkaha‘ia looked at Mills “very wishfully, and said, ‘Will you pray, sir, before we part?’” It is said that he listened to the “prayer with fixed attention, and when it was closed said, ‘I thank you, sir’ – and this with a sweetness of voice and an expression of countenance which none can conceive but those who witnessed them.” (Ibid.)

“A few minutes before he breathed his last, his physician said to him, ‘How do you feel now?’ ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia answered, ‘Very well. I am not sick. I have no pain. I feel well.’

‘The expression of his countenance was that of perfect peace.’” (Op. cit., page 96)

“No alarm was given, until someone who was standing by his bedside exclaimed, ʻHe is gone.’ It is said that all sprang to the bed. ‘The spirit departed – but a smile, such as none present had ever beheld – an expression of the final triumph of the soul, remained on his countenance.’” (Ibid.)

The transfiguration of Moses and the transfiguration of Jesus caused their faces to shine. (Exodus 34:30 & Luke 9:29) Both stories give us pause to recognize and affirm God’s astounding glory and the power and authority each was given. I believe the mystery of God’s astounding glory was also present at the death of ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia.

The “expression of (his) countenance” and “a smile, such as none present had ever beheld” is what compelled the first mission company to set sail for Hawai‘i in 1819. Like Peter, James and John, ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia gave heed to the proclamation: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.”

It is said that one day prior to his death – “he looked out of the window, his eyes appeared fixed on some delightful object.” When someone asked ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia, “Of what are you thinking? ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia replied, “Oh! I can’t tell you all,’ said he – of Jesus Christ.” (Op. cit., page 91)

Although he was not able to return to Hawaiʻi, others came. May we be strengthened and encouraged by ‘Ōpūkaha‘ia’s life and faithful witness so that we too may proclaim the good news not from the mountaintop but in places where God gathers the outcasts and heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds, and lifts up the downtrodden.

This is good news indeed.


Thanks be to God.

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