“What Do You See?” based on Mark 9:3-9 was the title of Rev David Diller’s sermon this past Sunday.   There are lots of reasons why we don’t see things.  Sometimes we don’t see because we haven’t read widely & deeply in great literary classics & our minds are not developed enough for us to climb out of the valley of our own time & culture.  Sometimes we don’t see because we lack spiritual insight & the social sensitivity that comes from walking in the shoes of others.   Sometimes we don’t see because we are so blessed by God we are blinded by our success & power.  It may take illness or disaster to reveal to us our weakness & vulnerability. 

            At the mount of Transfiguration, the disciples saw Jesus transparent to eternity.   They saw the great religious heritage of Israel in the Law & the Prophets speaking to & through Jesus.  In him they could see to the very heart & mind of God.   As they lost sight in a cloud, they heard a voice.  “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.”   External sight gives way to inner vision as to this day we hear the voice of God speaking through Jesus.  We learn to distinguish kingdom living from our language, tradition, culture, & way of thinking.  He came to show us creative ways to get along with others, so we can handle problems with wisdom & gentleness.  He came to show us the meaning of life is to help others, so we could begin to hear God’s call to loving service.