Reflections for Youth - Transfiguration and "Return of the Jedi"

So, here is where I geek out about Star Wars. 

Well, specifically about "Return of the Jedi. "

Have you seen it? 

Let's talk about the ending. So, at the end of the movie, the Rebel Alliance is celebrating on Endor (Ewok land).  All the main characters are there and everyone seems happy and dancing.  Luke steps away from the scene and he's visited by the smiling ghosts of Obi-Wan and Yoda, and then Anakin. 

A familiar scene? I am thinking about how this is similar to our scripture passage this week. Matthew's version of the Transfiguration story has some of the same elements.  

Read Matthew 17: 1-9 

So Matthew’s Gospel tells us that Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to walk up to the top of the mountain. Maybe they thought Jesus was going up to the mountain to pray to God and he wanted them to pray, too.

When they go on the mountain the disciples saw that Jesus’ body because bright as the sun and his clothes sparkled like a bright light. And they saw that Moses and Elijah, prophets from long ago, were standing next to Jesus and they were all talking.

 Peter says “It’s a good thing we came with you. Do you want me to make shelters for you?

And before Peter even finished his question a bright cloud came over the mountain covering everyone and a voice said “This is my son, I love him dearly. He makes me happy. Listen to him.”  (We've heard these words before in the story of Jesus' baptism.) 

When they heard the voice Peter, James and John fell to the ground and covered their faces. They knew this was a holy moment and a holy place.

But Jesus told them to not be afraid.  And when they got up and looked around the cloud was gone, and Moses and Elijah were gone too.

On the way down the mountain, Jesus said: “Don’t tell anyone what you saw or heard until the time is right.”

A curious story for sure. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  What does it mean? Elijah was a great prophet who foreshadowed the Messiah, while Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Law from God. Together, they represent the Old Testament and the Jewish faith.  And Jesus, the beloved son of God, is leading the disciples to a mountaintop experience where they will see him transformed - showing them who he is.

I don't know why the disciples are told not to share what they have seen. Perhaps its because God wants people to decide for themselves who Jesus is.  But that's just one theory. 

In the scripture, Jesus is surrounded by the people, also chosen by God, to teach the world and to remind him (and us) of who he is.  

So the connection between the stories is that our protagonists - Jesus and Luke Skywalker - are both visited by what we call a "great cloud of witness."  In the movie, the spirits are perhaps silently telling Luke they're proud of him. After all, these three characters were all mentors to Luke in one way or another. When Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Anakin appear at the party, they are showing Luke that they are there with him and Luke is beloved. 

Who are your mentors? 

Who are the people that have taught you supported you, and remind you of who you are?

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