👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾The Divine Celebration of Mount #Tabor: A Discourse on the #Transfiguration
Brethren in Christ, gather around as we delve into the sacred narrative of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, celebrated on the hallowed Mount Tabor. This solemn feast, reverently observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on the 13th of Nehase each year, encapsulates a moment of profound revelation, where the divine light of Christ was manifested before the eyes of his closest disciples.
The Holy Event of Transfiguration
On this esteemed mountain, after six days of journeying with His beloved disciples Peter, James, and John, our Lord Jesus secluded Himself from the multitudes. There, He was transfigured before them: His face did shine as the sun, and His garments became as white as light, resplendent and purer than any fuller on earth could achieve. This divine spectacle was not for the eyes of all, but for those chosen to witness the unveiled glory of the Godhead, a foretaste of the heavenly kingdom.
Accompanying this heavenly vision were Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, conversing with Jesus. Their presence signified the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies through the person of Jesus Christ. Peter, impetuously yet with pure intent, proposed to erect three tabernacles for them, a gesture signifying the desire to preserve this holy encounter.
Yet, while Peter spoke, a luminous cloud enveloped them, and a voice from heaven proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him." At this divine utterance, the disciples fell prostrate with awe and fear. Christ, ever compassionate, touched them, bidding them rise and fear not. In this act, He reassured them of His protective human and divine presence.
The Celebration of Buhe
In the verdant landscapes of Ethiopia, this celestial event is celebrated as Buhe. The festivities are marked not in the confines of the church but burst forth into the community, symbolizing the spreading of divine light into the world. As midday transitions to autumn, the air, once foggy, clears, heralding the end of the harsh winter—providentially echoing the spiritual renewal the Transfiguration brings.
Children, embodying the joyous innocence required of the faithful, play significant roles. They wield whips and raise spirited shouts, echoing under the cliffs, reminiscent of the divine voice at Tabor. Mothers, engaged in the ritualistic preparation of wheat, signify the nurturing aspect of the church, feeding the faithful with spiritual and corporeal sustenance.
A tradition holds that at the eventide of the Lord’s Transfiguration, shepherds, bewildered by the divine light, ventured out with lit torches in search of its source. In commemoration, torches are lit, and children, bearing full bread, proclaim "Buhe" in remembrance of this pursuit of the divine light.
Spiritual Reflections
This feast, dear brethren, is not merely an historical commemoration but a call to personal transformation. As the divine light illuminated Christ, so are we called to let His light transfigure our beings. The transformation on Mount Tabor prefigures our own spiritual transfiguration, where, through grace, we are called to partake in the divine nature.
Let us, therefore, embrace the message of Mount Tabor. Let us listen to the beloved Son of God, not merely as a historical figure but as the ever-present Teacher and Redeemer. In our daily tribulations and our spiritual journey, may the light of Tabor guide us, and may we, like the disciples, rise and fear not, for our Lord is ever with us, illuminating our path to the eternal.
In this, our celebration of Buhe is not just a festive tradition but a profound participation in the divine life, a testament to our journey towards the everlasting light of Christ. Amen.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue, today and always.
© John's Repentance
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