Reflection on "Transfiguration" and "Disfiguration"

October 20, 2011
To: Winfred Vergara
Subject: Your blog post - The Transfiguration

Dear Father Fred,

Thank you for using the Internet to encourage us to think and reflect!  Your closing blog post contribution about the Transfiguration reminded me of some reflections that I have had.

The Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6th, reminds me that August 6th was the day the atomic bomb was dropped for the very first time on human beings, towards the end of the Second World War, on the City of Hiroshima. 

Three days later, on August 9th, the second nuclear bomb was dropped on the City of Nagasaki.

How ironic that Nagasaki was the location in Japan where the Christian Gospel was communicated by Channing Moore Williams, a priest of the Episcopal Church.

On the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, in the Episcopal Church's present calendar of scripture readings, we are exposed to the passage that speaks of the Transfiguration.

Three days following the Last Sunday after the Epiphany is the solemn observance of Ash Wednesday. 

I could not help but be reminded of the three day interval between Hiroshima and Nagasaki - both cities were turned into ashes.

The word used for "transfiguration" in Japanese can also mean "disfiguration." 

What God wrought and what humans can cause to happen - can change transfiguration to disfiguration ...  So I have found myself reflecting on the meanings of Transfiguration and disfiguration on the Feast of the Transfiguration, and on the Transfiguration narrative that we read on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, and then observe Ash Wednesday 3 days later. 

The 3-day interval is a solemn reminder to me of the massive "disfiguration(s)" by nuclear fission of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, and the meaning of ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Tim+

Email:  frtim@yahoo.com

The Rev'd Canon Timothy M. Nakayama, Retired
Seattle, WA  / Diocese of Olympia


- 1998-2000 NSKK (Japan) -St. Andrew's, Aomori - Tohoku Diocese
- 1991-1997 NSKK (Japan) -All Souls', Chatan - Okinawa Diocese
- 1966-1991 The Episcopal Church (USA) - St. Peter's, Seattle WA - Olympia Diocese
- 1962-1966 Anglican Church of Canada (Canada) - LamertonParish-Mirror - Calgary Diocese
- 1958-1962 AC (Canada)- SoAltaMssn, Foremost - Calgary Diocese
- 1956-1958 AC (Canada)-  St. Barnabas, Calgary - Calgary Diocese
- 1950-1956 AC (Canada)- Calgary and New Westminster Dioceses

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