Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying. ~ Luke 9:32-33
Doves build nests out of sticks, usually close to the trunk where they can build over a spot where branches come together. Obviously, they need to carry the nesting material from elsewhere to the site where they will build. A dove carrying an olive branch is a well-known symbol for peace. As I thought about its origin in the Noah’s Ark story, it occurred to me that the meaning has shifted, even transformed. In the context of the story, the meaning of a bird returning with nesting material was that the disaster had past and it was now time to rebuild. When we use the symbol to represent the end of hostilities between parties, we are neglecting the part of the story that bids us to the next steps.
In the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus, Peter is excited to build, but not to move. He is like the dove returning to the ark, ready to build in the known, safe space instead of venturing out to the dry land now exposed by the receding flood. Clearly, remaining on the ark when a new world of opportunities is possible only appears to be safe and peaceful. An ark is not very useful outside of the flood. Likewise, Jesus makes clear to Peter and the others, that this lofty mountaintop experience was not the destination, it is a type of ark meant to deliver them. Their journey was always meant to go down to the valley where real people needed help with real problems. That is where the other disciples were, and they were failing. Jesus ends up having to provide the healing that they had been expected to perform.
True peace is not found in the ceasefire nor even in the terms of a treaty, but in the living out of those promises. Likewise, the mountaintop spiritual experiences of our lives are not where we live, instead they are fuel for the journey through the valleys were salvation and healing for all come through our faithful efforts.
Prayer: Divine Transformer, remind us of the awe-filled experiences that transform us into faithful disciples, prepared even to climb that other mountain topped by crosses. Amen.
