SERMON: “The Transforming Power Is Amongst Us”
by Rev. Francisco J. Hernando, Ed.D.
SCRIPTURE TEXTS: Philippians 3: 14-4:1; Luke 9: 28-43
Occasion: 2nd Sunday in Lent, March 16, 2025
Location: UCCP Ekklesia, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Philippians 3:14 - 4:1
14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
15Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
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Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for
Luke 9:28-43
28Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
37On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
43And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples,
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Introduction
Good morning to all! Maayong aga sa inyo tanan. I bring warmest greetings of love and peace from the Office of the President of Union Theological Seminary, Philippines–the School of the Prophets. I took this opportunity to be with you here at UCCP Ekklesia to deliver this morning’s sermon on this 2nd Sunday in Lent and International Women’s Month.
From last Monday March 10 to Thursday, March 13, the Association for Theological Education in Southeast Asia (ATESEA) had its general assembly at Central Philippine University and Park-Inn Radisson Hotel. ATESEA elected its new set of Board members and officers. We also learned ways how AI can be beneficial in Theological Education. We have a very competent lecturer, Professor Stephen Alayon from West Visayas State University. I will be travelling back to Manila and Dasmarinas, Cavite on Tuesday March 18. UTS has been preparing for the accreditation visit of ATESEA accreditation team scheduled on March 26-28, 2025. I thank you for your support for theological education and particularly for students from Western Visayas Conference. I hope that you will continue to support and send students to UTS, Philippines.
Today’s meditation focuses on transformation as seen and understood in the biblical narrative on Jesus’ transfiguration–the moment when Jesus prayed on a mountain together with some of his disciples. We will also relate this to Saint Paul’s admonition to the Philippian believers to press on toward the goal in living out ethical lives and allowing God’s power transform them.
These two passages point us to the reality of God’s transforming power that operates amongst us—it is at work in our lives, our faith, and our struggles. Today, we will reflect on three points:
First, God’s Power Transforms Us through God’s presence
In life's common experiences, God’s power may not be manifest, especially when our daily routine is so predictable and uneventful. In the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ transfiguration, we are led to the time when Jesus prayed on a mountain together with some of his disciples. It was a worship moment for Jesus, when he brought to God the concerns of his life and mission. In fact, Jesus was anticipating his suffering and death on the cross. It was in the intense encounter of Jesus with God’s presence that he was transfigured, that affirmed his messiahship–the beloved child of God offering himself as sacrifice for the redemption of people.
In that transfiguration event, Jesus’ appearance changed, and Moses and Elijah appeared, speaking with Him about His coming sacrifice. Peter, overwhelmed, wanted to build shelters to prolong the experience, but then a voice from heaven declared, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35).
This moment revealed Jesus’ divine identity. For sure his disciples did not know full well that he was the promised messiah, we could have been considered a well known prophet of his time, but there was possibility of dichotomy between human and divine as influenced by Greek philosophy. There was a growing people’s awareness of Jesus’ divinity but there were those who did not believe in him. The powers-that-be headed by the Roman emperor would not allow claims to the political and divine power where people–vulnerable and suffering would subscribe and have faith in what God in Christ could bring out and about in their situation.
In faith, we know that transformation begins not with human effort, but in the presence of God. This is true in how Jesus was transfigured and how his messianic identity was confirmed and how the disciples build their first hand faith-experience of who Jesus is in their lives and in history. God’s presence and God talking to the disciples encouraged them to listen to Jesus and obey his teachings.
Transformation happens when a triggering event occurs, such as a crisis, a new insight or a powerful experience that challenges people’s existing beliefs and identity. As transformation progresses, a person experiences a shift in emotions and identity. Shifts in the personal life may happen such as a) letting go–releasing oneself from attachments to past emotions and identity (Jesus accepting the reality of suffering and death); b) embracing uncertainty– that is, accepting that growth and maturity often comes with discomfort and a lack of immediate clarity (the disciples response was constructing booths on the mountain, one each for Jesus, Elijah and Moses); and the setting in of new emotional patterns–developing greater sense of peace, purpose, or resilience.
Second, God Empowers Us in Our Struggles and in Building Solidarity
The ecstatic moment of the transfiguration on the mountaintop ended and Jesus and his disciples had to go down to the valley where they had to reentry into the realities of life and the confrontation with the demonic powers of their times. The transformation of the disciples' faith and spiritual powers was tested on the ground when they failed to exorcise a demon possessed boy. Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith and demonstrates His power by healing the boy instantly. This shows that faith is not just about spiritual experiences; it is about trusting in God’s power in everyday life.
Also, the power of faith is operative when we mediate the power of God in Christ in love, compassion and peace. We learn that the disciples failed because they tried in their own strength instead of relying on God. Reliance on God’s power is both spiritual and social. It is spiritual in the sense our prayers for healing, reconciliation and peace are being shared by a collection of spiritually mature believers who have the ability to transcend their own personal circumstances and reach the height of their uninterrupted attention to effect healing and restoration to a person in need.
In 2019, I attended one of the prayer rallies held by churches and ecumenical organizations in Metro Manila that support Rise Up, the organization of families of victims of Duterte government War on Drugs in a Catholic Seminary chapel in Quezon City, and I have heard the cries parents who lost their young children as they were extrajudicially killed by police operatives during raids in communities. The Prayer rally at the start was filled with tragic and sad stories, but toward the end, the participants lit candles and raised their voices demanding justice for their murdered children.
Jesus reminds us that true transformation requires faith—not just in good times, but in struggles too. People undergoing threats and struggles often experience profound transformation, shaped by psychological, emotional, and social factors. Recently at the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, some of the families of victims of EJK are undergoing transformation. There are those who feel hopeful that justice will take its course with the arrest of former President Duterte and the ICC to commence the trial on cases of crime against humanity.
Transformation in the midst of struggle is deeply personal and depends on the individual’s mindset, support systems, and the nature of the hardship they face. While some emerge stronger, others may struggle with lasting scars, requiring long-term healing and support.
Third, God’s Transformative Power Enables Us to move on
Paul, writing to the Philippians, urges believers to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). In her interpretation and meditation on the text, in the webpage Working Preacher, Sara Henrich discussed that:
(I quote) The Philippians are asked to continue (their) behavior and not abandon what it means to “stand firm” (4:1) in Christ—that is, living according to God in Christ (“heavenly citizenship,” 3:20), as Paul and others are trying to do (3:17). “Keep on imitating,” “keep on observing” so that you may continue to live (3:17) not as an enemy of the cross of Christ, but as one “standing firm” in the Christ who himself went to that cross.
It is a powerful passage, offering both a calling that is countercultural for the ancient recipients and perhaps even more so for us. The promise of life for those who have their citizenship in heaven (having faith in God through Christ and witnessing to it) is a continued transformation into the body of Christ’s glory (Philippians 3:21). That transformative action is written in the future tense, beginning,... with incorporation into that body through baptism. (Italics mine).
It is really important to say that neither “heavenly citizenship” nor full future transformation refers only to some reality beyond that of earthly life. The Philippians, like Jesus and Paul and others, are to live here on earth as citizens whose constitution–the gospel (see 1:27) comes from God, not from any other gods or emperors. Their lives, transformed by being caught up into the body of Christ, now have different values, different sources of power, different goals than those who are not living that life (see 3:18–19). (unquote)
The practical implication of Paul’s letter to the Philippians is that their membership in the body of Christ, which we refer today as the Church or the community of faith to where individuals are nurtured in the gospel, participates in the transformation process of becoming like Christ in its mission and ministry.
In connection with the International Women’s Day/ Month, as members of our families, we continue to strive for equality and justice in our homes and in our churches. We are fully aware that as God’s people we are created in the image of God and both women and men have the intrinsic quality of God in us, which should be lived in the protection of the rights of everyone.
Also, the celebration of the International Women’s Day/month includes our responsibility to protect the lives of children and youth and respect their gender orientation, care for them and love them as we are. This is part of the transformation process that we have to pursue even in the midst of difficulties, yet hopeful for God’s justice and love to save us from the perils of everyday life.
Conclusion
My sisters and brothers in Christ, let us always remember that we are transformed in and by God’s presence, that can be made possible through prayer and worship which are means of drawing near to God.
God’s transforming power is amongst us, working in our lives every day. In this Lenten Season, let us open our hearts, listen to Jesus, and allow His power to change us and transform us—so that we may shine with His glory and press on toward the fullness of life.
Let us pray. God of transformation and love, we thank you for this time of worship, for the chance to listen to your word as interpreted. We pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be continually renewed in our commitment in serving you. We pray for justice to roll down like waters for the victims of the war on drugs, comfort the sorrowing mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and family members, that the recent social developments in society will increase our hope for a country that lives out justice and compassion modeled by our Savior Jesus Christ. In his name we pray. Amen.+++End of Sermon
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Reference: David Lose, https://www.davidlose.net/2016/02/transfiguration-c-worship-transfigured/
Reference:
Reference: Sarah Henrich, https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/second-sunda, retrieved March 14, 2025.
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