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Transfiguration, Jesus Reveals his Glory, Matthew 17, Day 39, Feb 18th, Blog Through the Bible Project.

By Anita Mathias

Carl Bloch, Tranfiguration

Matthew 16
Jesus Predicts His Death
 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Peter, swollen headed from his previous commendations, takes charge.
NIV notes, The beginning of a new phase in Jesus ministry. Instead of teaching the crowd in parables, he now concentrates on preparing the disciples for his coming suffering and death.
 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Lol! What is amusing is that, just in the previous paragraph, Peter had been told that the Father had revealed the truth of Jesus’ identity to him, and that he was the rock on which Jesus would build his church.
Now, he is rebuked as Satan, a stumbling block, who did not have in mind the concerns of God, but human concerns.
And that is what we humans are. At one moment, we are filled with revelation and insight, and realize we are blessed. The next moment we are impetuous and presumptuous, and have in mind human concerns, not the concerns of God, and are very like Satan in the things we prize. 
ESV notes–In the context of the Jewish master-disciple relationship, it would have been audacious for a disciple to correct his master, let alone rebuke him. Peter, like most of his fellow Jews, resisted the idea that the Messiah must suffer, even though it is found in the OT, Psalms, Isaiah, Zechariah.
Satan, a loan word from Hebrew, meaning adversary or accuser.

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For me, the hardest sentence in Scripture.
 Saying No to self, shouldering the instrument of the death of the insistent demanding rowdy self and its desires is the only way to follow Christ.
The cross you carry is that of your own death, of doing exactly what you feel like (in terms of, let’s say, eating, control of temper, use of free time, use of money…)
This verse is one I need to be reminded of every day. 
And that is why it is good to read and study Scripture. Because, left to ourselves, we forget.
ESV notes–Satan attempts to hinder Jesus mission through Peter who does not understand that Jesus’ messianic role must include suffering and death.
25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Those who want to ensure the pleasantness of their lives in every detail, in fact, lose the pleasantness of it.
Those who lose their rights to the gratification of every desire for the sake of following the teachings of Jesus, in fact, find life.
ESV notes–Verses 25-27 each beginning with For (Greek Gar) provide three related reasons why a disciple must let go of his earthly life, and take up his cross. 
26 For what good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
We will be rewarded or ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE. Or so this verse says. And so, it profits us nothing to gain everything for a finite time, and then lose our souls for eternity.

   28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Matthew 17

The Transfiguration
 1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
This is the vision I would love to see. Jesus transfigured before me. His face shining like the sun. His clothes as white as the light.
Jesus, both our friend, the lamb of God, and the radiant one, whose face shines like the son, clothed in light.
His transfiguration was a reminder of the glory he had before he became man, and a preview of his future exaltation.

 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
I love this–Peter is somebody who first talks, then thinks. Impulsive, impetuous, him with his foot in his mouth. His first reaction to the revelation of the glory of Christ is to say something, do something. And so, he reassures Christ that it is good that he is there to take charge at this critical juncture. And then offers to build shelters for these spiritual beings. 
ESV notes–Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets, which witness to Jesus as the Messaih, the one which fulfills the Old Testament.
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
The words which change everything. When we hear the father say, This is my daughter, whom I love. With her, I am well pleased.
And why does he say these words over us? Because we belong to Christ. We are grafted into Christ. We are in Christ, molecules in his bloodstream.
ESV notes–The bright cloud is reminscent of the cloud of God’s presence and glory in the OT, Exodus, and 1 Kings 8, 10-13
God the Father’s public endorsement of Jesus, his beloved son, echoes that given at Jesus’ baptism.
 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Terrified with a sense of awe at the presence and majesty of God.
And these are the great words which Jesus always speaks to us. Get up, don’t be afraid. 

 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The Messianic secret. There is in Jesus, a continual waiting for the right time, the kairos time–the appointed moment in the purposes of God–rather than the chronos time, time as we know it. 

 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
They understand spiritual things literally, not metaphorically, a continual risk when dealing with the things of God.

 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
ESV–Understanding is a key theme of Matthew’s Gospel. 

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If you'll forgive me for adding to the noise of th If you'll forgive me for adding to the noise of the world on Black Friday, my memoir ,Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India, is on sale on Kindle all over the world for a few days. 
Carolyn Weber (who has written "Surprised by Oxford," an amazing memoir about coming to faith in Oxford https://amzn.to/3XyIftO )  has written a lovely endorsement of my memoir:
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The memoir is available on sale on Amazon.co.uk at https://amzn.to/3u0Ib8o and on Amazon.com at https://amzn.to/3u0IBvu and is reduced on the other Amazon sites too.
Thank you, and please let me know if you read and enjoy it!! #memoir #indianchildhood #india
Second birthday party. Determinedly escaping! So i Second birthday party. Determinedly escaping!
So it’s a beautiful November here in Oxford, and the trees are blazing. We will soon be celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary…and are hoping for at least 33 more!! 
And here’s a chapter from my memoir of growing up Catholic in India… rosaries at the grotto, potlucks, the Catholic Family Movement, American missionary Jesuits, Mangaloreans, Goans, and food, food food…
https://anitamathias.com/2022/11/07/rosaries-at-the-grotto-a-chapter-from-my-newly-published-memoir-rosaries-reading-steel-a-catholic-childhood-in-india/
Available on Amazon.co.uk https://amzn.to/3Apjt5r and on Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3gcVboa and wherever Amazon sells books, as well as at most online retailers.
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Friends, it’s been a while since I blogged, but Friends, it’s been a while since I blogged, but it’s time to resume, and so I have. Here’s a blog on an absolutely infallible secret of joy, https://anitamathias.com/2022/10/28/an-infallible-secret-of-joy/
Jenny Lewis, whose Gilgamesh Retold https://amzn.to/3zsYfCX is an amazing new translation of the epic, has kindly endorsed my memoir. She writes, “With Rosaries, Reading and Secrets, Anita Mathias invites us into a totally absorbing world of past and present marvels. She is a natural and gifted storyteller who weaves history and biography together in a magical mix. Erudite and literary, generously laced with poetic and literary references and Dickensian levels of observation and detail, Rosaries is alive with glowing, vivid details, bringing to life an era and culture that is unforgettable. A beautifully written, important and addictive book.”
I would, of course, be delighted if you read it. Amazon.co.uk https://amzn.to/3gThsr4 and Amazon.com https://amzn.to/3WdCBwk #joy #amwriting #amblogging #icecreamjoy
Wandering around Oxford with my camera, photograph Wandering around Oxford with my camera, photographing ancient colleges! Enjoy.
And just a note that Amazon is offering a temporary discount on my memoir, Rosaries, Reading, Steel https://amzn.to/3UQN28z . It’s £7.41.
Here’s an endorsement from my friend, Francesca Kay, author of the beautiful novel, “An Equal Stillness.” This is a beautifully written account of a childhood, so evocative, so vivid. The textures, colours and, above all, the tastes of a particular world are lyrically but also precisely evoked and there was much in it that brought back very clear memories of my own. Northern India in the 60s, as well as Bandra of course – dust and mercurochrome, Marie biscuits, the chatter of adult voices, the prayers, the fruit trees, dogs…. But, although you rightly celebrate the richness of that world, you weave through this magical remembrance of things past a skein of sadness that makes it haunting too. It’s lovely!” #oxford #beauty
So, I am not going to become a book-bore, I promis So, I am not going to become a book-bore, I promise, but just to let you know that my memoir "Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India," is now available in India in paperback. https://www.amazon.in/s?k=rosaries+reading+secrets&crid=3TLDQASCY0WTH&sprefix=rosaries+r%2Caps%2C72&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_10My endorsements say it is evocative, well-written, magical, haunting, and funny, so I'd be thrilled if you bought a copy on any of the Amazon sites. 
Endorsements 
A beautifully written account. Woven through this magical remembrance of things past is a skein of sadness that makes it haunting. Francesca Kay, An Equal Stillness. 
A dazzling vibrant tale of childhood in post-colonial India. Mathias conjures 1960s India and her family in uproarious and heart-breaking detail. Erin Hart, Haunted Ground 
Mathias invites us into a wonderfully absorbing and thrilling world of past and present marvels… generously laced with poetic and literary references and Dickensian levels of observation and detail. A beautifully written, important, and addictive book. Jenny Lewis, Gilgamesh Retold 
Tormented, passionate and often sad, Mathias’s beautiful childhood memoir is immensely readable. Trevor Mostyn, Coming of Age in The Middle East.
A beautifully told and powerful story. Joining intelligent winsomeness with an engaging style, Mathias writes with keen observation, lively insight and hard-earned wisdom. Carolyn Weber, Surprised by Oxford 
A remarkable account. A treasure chest…full of food (always food), books (always books), a family with all its alliances and divisions. A feat of memory and remembrance. Philip Gooden, The Story of English
Anita’s pluck and charm shine through every page of this beautifully crafted, comprehensive and erudite memoir. 
Ray Foulk, Picasso’s Revenge
Mathias’s prose is lively and evocative. An enjoyable and accessible book. Sylvia Vetta, Sculpting the Elephant
Anita Mathias is an is an accomplished writer. Merryn Williams, Six Women Novelists
Writing a memoir awakens fierce memories of the pa Writing a memoir awakens fierce memories of the past. For the past is not dead; it’s not even past, as William Faulkner observed. So what does one do with this undead past? Forgive. Forgive, huh? Forgive. Let it go. Again and again.
Some thoughts on writing a memoir, and the prologue to my memoir
https://anitamathias.com/2022/09/08/thoughts-on-writing-a-memoir-the-prologue-to-rosaries-reading-secrets/ 
#memoir #amwriting #forgiveness https://amzn.to/3B82CDo
Six months ago, Roy and I decided that finishing t Six months ago, Roy and I decided that finishing the memoir was to be like “the treasure in the field,” that Jesus talks about in the Gospels, which you sacrifice everything to buy. (Though of course, he talks about an intimate relationship with God, not finishing a book!!) Anyway, I’ve stayed off social media for months… but I’ve always greatly enjoyed social media (in great moderation) and it’s lovely to be back with the book now done  https://amzn.to/3eoRMRN  So, our family news: Our daughter Zoe is training for ministry as a priest in the Church of England, at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. She is “an ordinand.” In her second year. However, she has recently been one of the 30 ordinands accepted to work on an M.Phil programme (fully funded by the Church of England.) She will be comparing churches which are involved in community organizing with churches which are not, and will trace the impact of community organizing on the faith of congregants.  She’ll be ordained in ’24, God willing.
Irene is in her final year of Medicine at Oxford University; she will be going to Toronto for her elective clinical work experience, and will graduate as a doctor in June ‘23, God willing.
And we had a wonderful family holiday in Ireland in July, though that already feels like a long time ago!
https://anitamathias.com/2022/09/01/rosaries-readi https://anitamathias.com/2022/09/01/rosaries-reading-secrets-a-catholic-childhood-in-india-my-new-memoir/
Friends, some stellar reviews from distinguished writers, and a detailed description here!!
https://amzn.to/3wMiSJ3 Friends, I’ve written a https://amzn.to/3wMiSJ3  Friends, I’ve written a memoir of my turbulent Catholic childhood in India. I would be grateful for your support!
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