The Transfiguration’s Cry; The Words of Jesus, Moses and Elijah

* Dedicated to Drake, Started From The Bottom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RubBzkZzpUA

[The setting: The summit of Mount Tabor, the Holy Mountain. Scant foliage, the occasional tree and cluster of diminutive bushes, encompasses a prodigious stretch of dirt plain, with small rocks partially embedded in the ground from the recurring travel of pilgrims. Jesus, Moses and Elijah, clothed in resplendently white robes and emanating almost blinding white auras, are suspended in the air approximately forty feet above Peter, James, John and Tony, all huddled together in terror and awe.]

Tony (addressing Peter, James and John): YOOO DUDES!!! WHAT IN THE YOUNG MONEY CREW IS GOING ON HERE????? HOW DA HECK ARE DEEZ BAMMAS FLOATING IN THE AIR LIKE THAT? WHAT IS THIS, SOME BEYONCE AND CHRIS BROWN CONCERT???? YOOOOOO!!!!!

Peter, James and John (staring at Tony quizzically, and with significant umbrage): ……………..what? you idiot. Why are you even here? You aren’t one of the twelve.

Tony: Look bros, I don’t know about yall, but Jesus gives a new meaning to the phrase “getting high!!” GET IT???!!! HA HA HAAAAA!!!! YOU GUYS GET MY PUNCHLINE!!!!! ……(mumbling under his breath) you three stooges…..

Peter (completely ignoring Tony): Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah….

Tony (chagrinned): AHEM!!!! ARENT YOU FORGETING SOMEONE???? HELLO!!!! DON’T YOU MEAN FOUR TABERNACLES!!!!???.....besides what idiot would want a tabernacle built right now?????

[Peter issues Tony a cutting glance, but remains silent]

Tony (feigning a fisticuff): YEAH YOU BETTER BE SILENT FOO! SILLY FOO-FOO!!! NOW LET ME TALK TO JESUS WHILE YOU WUSSIES SIT AND TREMBLE!!! (Tony looks upward and addresses the Heavenly Trio)….AYO JESUS!!!! WHAT UP DAWWWWWGGGGGG!!!! CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE RB* FALL IN LOVE WITH ME? EVEN THOUGH SHES YOUNG…SHE BAAAADDDD!!! SHE IS THE GIRL OF MY DREAAM…

[A voice interrupts Tony]

YAHWEH: BEHOLD! THIS IS MY SON, AND THE PROPHET, AND THE LAWGIVER! …..THEY STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM (IN BETHELHEM IN A PUTRID MANGER, IN  WAR TORN ISRAEL, AND IN A BASKET IN EGYPT RESPECTFULLY)….NOW THEY’RE HERE!!!! LISTEN TO THEM!!! THEY DON’T NEED TO DO MUCH EXPLAINING!

Tony (excited and dancing): YUUUUHH!!! AWWWW SHUUCCCKKKSSS YAHWEH!!! – YOU RIGHT SON!!! HOT DIGGITY DAAAANNNNGGGGG!!!! DEY STARTED FROM DA BOTTOM NOW DEY HE—YAHH!!! YUUUHHH!!! STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW THE WHOLE TEAM’S FRIIIIICCKKINNNN HE-YAAAHH!

------------------/The Transfiguration’s Cry; The Words of Jesus, Moses and Elijah

We go from glory to glory, transcend baskets pushed down the Nile,

all alone,

arrows between Israel and Judah callous and indiscriminate

dart just above our nursing mothers, as we reach mistakenly for dung

as food in a filthy manger just inside of Bethlehem.

Treasure in jars of clay striving for perfection in a world fallen.

To sit amongst the stars, but a meager undertaking,

in front of the world brandishing once unfathomable dreams

and through the miraculous before the masses making

them all too fathomable; planting seeds of hope.

We want to show the world we are from dirt, but are not its slaves

nor the Red Sea’s, or Baal’s or Satan’s…armed

only with recalcitrance and unwavering belief in a God

who sleeps not, but only breathes fire for us.

(We smile in adversity’s ghastly face like an altar drenched in water

suddenly set aflame, pale smoke rising)       

On a mountain overlooking the world, scores of the faithful emulating,

this has been our singular vision when we close our eyes, alighting

our often dismally onyx nights, with bloody dreams,

sustaining us like a prophetic worded uttered  

and held fast in our hearts for the sake of our people.

When the past is dark, but your soul is effulgent

your clothes dingy, but the garment of your faith in the future

dazzling,

to those despairing yet hopeful you must shine most brightly.

So we ascend, on Heaven’s canvas painted irradiant

by God

proclaiming the message of liberation against the bleak sky

and black clouds pessimistic, witnessing to impossibility.

Look up; this is the day you shall be set free

if you’d only believe

that our story is your story that through our God who endures,

you will be transfigured too;

one day floating above all your former limitations

(too glorious to be looked upon)    

-----/Matthew 17:1-9

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

-----------Started From The Bottom Lyrics

[Hook: Drake]
Started from the bottom now we here
Started from the bottom now my whole team f* here
Started from the bottom now we here
Started from the bottom now the whole team here nigga
Started from the bottom now we here
Started from the bottom now my whole team here nigga
Started from the bottom now we here
Started from the bottom now the whole team f* here

[Verse 1: Drake]
I'da kept it real from the jump
Livin' at my mama's house we argue every month
Nigga, I was tryin' to get it on my own
Working all night traffic on the way home
And my Uncle callin' me like where you at?
I gave you the keys told you bring it right back
Nigga, I think it's funny how it goes
Now I'm on the road half a million for a show
And we

[Hook]

[Verse 2: Drake]
Boys tell stories about the man
Say I never struggle wasn't hungry yeah I doubt it nigga
I can turn your boy into the man
There aint really much out here that's poppin' off without us nigga
We just want the credit where it's due
I'ma worry bout me give a f* about you
Nigga, just a reminder to myself
I wear every single chain even when I'm in the house
Cause we
Started from the bottom now we here
Started from the bottom now my whole team f* here
Started from the bottom now we here
Started from the bottom now the whole team here nigga

[Bridge: Drake]
No new niggas nigga we don't feel that
F* a fake friend where your real friends at?
We don't like to do too much explaining
Story stayed the same I never changed it
No new niggas nigga we don't feel that
F* a fake friend where your real friends at?
We don't like to do too much explaining
Story stayed the same through the money and the fame
Cause we

[Hook]