Introduction
One day, Jesus took three of his closest disciples up a mountain, and there briefly revealed himself to them as he truly is. For St Bede, the 8th century Northumbrian monk, it was a reminder that the light of heaven comes to those whose hearts are in heaven.
And he was transfigured before
them.
And his raiment became shining,
exceeding white as snow;
so as no fuller on earth can white them.
INTENDING to display his glory to his disciples, he led them to a high mountain, to teach everyone who wishes to see this not to wallow among base pleasures, or serve fleshly enticements, or cling to earthly desires, but to rouse himself towards what is above by the love of things that are eternal: we should always imitate a life of angelic cleanness, piety, peace and justice, so far as is possible to mortals, like the one who said, ‘For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ’.*
Intending to display the glory of his majesty, he led his disciples to the mountain, that they might learn – that all who thirst to see this might learn* – that it is not to be sought in the lowlands of this age, but in the realm of a blessedness upon high ground.
Freely translated from the Latin
See Philippians 3:20-21. When the Authorised Version was made in 1611, the word ‘conversation’ was already rather an old-fashioned term for one’s everyday family and social life. The translation ‘citizenship’ is widely used today. Paul is saying that Christians are not Roman Citizens who look to the Roman state for their identity and patterns of behaviour, but Heavenly Citizens whose lifestyle follows the fashions in vogue above.
There are countless reports of saints who have seen the uncreated light of heaven. See for example our story about Bede’s contemporary St Wilfrid, in St Wilfrid and the Angel of Light.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Base. Pleasure. Shine.
2 Always. Love. See.
3 Also. Can. He.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding in-.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Can. 2. Desire. 3. Lead. 4. Shine. 5. Snow. 6. Mountain. 7. Look. 8. Pleasure. 9. Mark.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
rs (24+1)
airs. areas. ares. arias. arise. arose. arouse. arse. auras. ears. eras. erase. euros. iris. oars. ores. ours. raise. rise. roes. rose. rouse. rues. ruse.
reuse.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
.jpg?uselang=en-gb){kind=link}