Meditation 226

Meditation 226

Mark 9: 2-9

The important symbol in this gospel lesson is light. We read of the light that Transfigured Jesus and transformed the disciples. In the human mind light and love are often thought of together. This coming Sunday is a day that highlights love and on that day we will observe Valentine’s Day. I suppose this year there may not have been the cards exchanged at school. There will however be cards sent to loved ones, chocolates bought and dozens and dozens of roses! Valentine’s Day is fun.

Valentine’s Day also has a background that is removed from flowers and candy. It is a day named for St Valentine, who was a third century Roman saint. One common story about St. Valentine is that in one point of his life, he was on house arrest with Judge Asterius.

While discussing religion and faith with the Judge, Valentine pledged the validity of Jesus.

The judge immediately put Valentine and his faith to the test. St. Valentine was presented with the judge’s blind daughter and told to restore her sight. If he succeeded, the judge vowed to do anything for Valentine. Placing his hands onto her eyes, Valentine restored the child’s vision.

Judge Asterius was humbled and obeyed Valentine’s requests. Asterius broke all the idols around his house, fasted for three days and became baptized, along with his family and entire 44-member household. The now faithful judge then freed all of his Christian inmates.

St Valentine continued to share the story of Jesus with many people and he was again arrested and brought before emperor Claudius II. Again he was imprisoned. Another story is told of Valentine while he was imprisoned. He missed his friends and wanted to send them messages of hope. There was a little bird that used to sing to Valentine at the window of his cell, and there was a vine that grew around that same window. One day Valentine picked up one of the bird’s feathers from the floor of his cell. He took one of the leaves from the vine and wrote “Yours, Valentine” on the leaf. Valentine used the feather to write on many leaves, and the little bird carried the leaves to Valentine’s friends. If the leaf was held with the stem at the top it looked like the shape of a heart, and so the custom of sending messages on heart shaped cards was begun.

Valentine was a devoted believer who always was true to his faith in Jesus. It is said that while Valentine was in prison that a relationship between the holy and emperor began to grow, until Valentine attempted to convince Claudius of Christianity. Claudius became enraged and sentenced Valentine to death, commanding him to renounce his faith or be executed.

St. Valentine refused to renew his faith and Christianity and was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. The romantic nature of Valentine’s Day may have derived during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that birds paired in mid-February. Although the exact origin of the holiday is not widely agreed upon, it is widely recognized as a day for love, devotion and romance.

Whoever he was, Valentine did really exist, because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, and young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses and his feast day is celebrated on February 14.

Most importantly we remember that Valentine was one who knew God so well that love of Jesus and discipleship were the focus of his life

He had a life changing experience when he put God face to face

Such a life changing event was experienced by three of the disciples on the day of transfiguration. We read that on that day the appearance of Jesus was changed

He was still himself, but he was brighter, more beautiful and elevated. He was transformed

And Peter, James and John witnessed this transformation. For those men this was what some would call a thin place. A thin place is where the membrane between heaven and earth breaks and you feel closer to the divine. It was such a breath taking experience that Peter wanted to stay there. Instead he found that he was to go from that breath taking experience and share the good news of God with his world.