2011-3-6 Metamorphosis Sunday

Eric Lemonholm

March 6, 2011

Transfiguration Sunday A

Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

 

Metamorphosis Sunday

A man took his new hunting dog on a trial hunt one day.  After a while he managed to shoot a duck and it fell in the lake.  The dog walked over the water, picked up the duck, and brought it to his master.

The man was stunned.  He didn’t know what to think.  He shot another duck and again, it fell into the lake and again the dog walked over the water and brought it back to his master.

Hardly daring to believe his eyes, and not wanting to be thought a total fool, he told no one about it – but the next day he called his neighbor to come shooting with him.  As on the previous day he shot a duck and it fell into the lake.  The dog walked over the water and got it.

His neighbor didn’t say a word.  Several more ducks got shot that day – and each time the dog walked over the water to retrieve them – and each time the neighbor said nothing and neither did the owner of the dog.

Finally – unable to contain himself any longer the owner asked his neighbor – “do you notice anything strange about my dog?”

“Yes,” replied the neighbor – rubbing his chin and thinking a bit – “come to think of it I do.  Your dog doesn’t know how to swim…”[ii]

 

It is difficult to talk about the event when Jesus went up on the mountain and his appearance was transformed.

Many people have difficulty understanding what happened – the experience is outside of our frame of reference – it doesn’t click with us, just as seeing the dog walking on the water didn’t really click with the neighbor in the story.

What happened to Jesus on the mountain that day?

Let’s backtrack a bit.  Six days earlier, Jesus had asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

In a burst of inspiration and insight, Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Peter’s confession was right on target.

But that does not mean that Peter really knew what he was saying when he called Jesus the Messiah.  Like you and me, Peter got to know his Lord Jesus better as he followed him, spent time with him, and listened to him.

It was not until Peter had encountered the Risen Jesus at Easter that Peter really got the picture, and began to understand who Jesus really is, and what it means to follow him.

 

Six days after Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up onto a high mountain.

Have any of you hiked up a mountain?

They probably went up the mountain to spend some time in prayer together.  Jesus often spent time alone in prayer, and he also prayed with his friends.

Isn’t it amazing that Jesus was busy preaching the good news to large crowds, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, raising the dead, welcoming the little children to come to him, and being the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Son of God— and yet Jesus always made time to pray, by himself or with his friends?

So, they hike up the mountain in their sandals.  They were dusty, dirty, sweaty, tired, thirsty.  Then something out of this world, wild, and miraculous happens—Jesus’ face shines like the sun, and his clothes become dazzling white.

Peter, James, and John were amazed—Here is their Rabbi and friend, who had just climbed a mountain with them—and suddenly, Jesus radiates a brilliant light.

 

The fancy church word for this event is the Transfiguration, which just means a transformation, or change, in appearance.  The original word in Greek is metamorphosis.  The Transfiguration is a mystery that only God can reveal or explain.  But basically, on that mountain Pete, Jim, and John caught a glimpse of who Jesus is in his glory as the Son of the living God.  It was even more dazzling than the Becca’s Closet Fashion Show!

The three disciples are amazed.  Like Moses in front of the burning bush, they were standing on holy ground.  And then, Moses and Elijah show up, and start talking with Jesus.  Remember, Moses and Elijah had been gone from the scene for hundreds of years when this happened, so this is pretty mysterious and amazing—God’s at work here.

Peter was excited, as he often was, and he offers to set up some shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, so they can stay awhile and have a retreat together on the mountain.  Sounds like a good idea: Keep that mountaintop experience going!  But then, something overwhelming happens: God speaks.

I have never heard God speak to me with words that I could hear with my ears – except when God speaks through the words of other people.  I don’t know if you have heard God’s voice directly or not.  I have certainly heard God speak in my heart.

In this congregation, I have heard God speak to my heart through the music of the choir and congregation.  In our first month here, God has said, “I love you” in so many ways, through all of you.

God spoke on the mountaintop and said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”  And Peter, James, and John fell on the ground, overcome by fear and awe.  Wow.  What would you do if you heard God speak?  I’d probably hit the dirt too.

 

Jesus did not ignore his friends, who were lying in fear.  He did not keep on chatting with Moses, Elijah, and his Father.  Jesus went to his friends, touched them, and said, “Get up and do not be afraid.”[iii]

 

We are not Jesus, of course, and we’re not Pete, Jim, or John – unless your name is Pete, Jim, or John – but even then you’re still a different Pete, Jim, or John.

In any case, we have not experienced the Transfiguration firsthand.

 

But there are times in our lives, during hard times, during times of joy in our lives, when we are aware of being in God’s presence.

When we have been surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

When we have been bathed in prayer and worship, in the word of God through Scripture and through each another, in the love of God.

I don’t know what your experiences on the mountaintops of your life have been like.  I don’t know what challenges you will face in the days and years ahead.  But I do know that you are a beloved child of God, who has been saved by faith in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Nothing can separate you from the love of God.

 

Madeleine L’Engle once wrote, “We are to be children of the light, and we are meant to walk in the light, and we have been groping along in the darkness.”[iv]

On that mountain, Peter, James, and John caught a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, his true self.

They walked in the light of his glory.

They were overwhelmed by the voice of God speaking from the cloud.

And they were comforted and strengthened by Jesus’ touch and his words, “Get up and do not be afraid.”

Get up and do not be afraid.

We have to walk back down the mountain.

We cannot stay on this mountaintop.

We must go back into the world of need, the world of toil and struggle, the world where God has called us to serve.

 

My hope and prayer is that, more and more, Good Shepherd will become a place where people catch a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, feel the touch of God’s grace, and are strengthened to go back down the mountain to love God and serve God’s people.

 

Let us pray a prayer by Roger Lovette:[v]

We confess, Lord, that often the events of our lives and world make us wonder if we are alone on this spinning globe. Often, like those early disciples, we grow fearful and forget our faith.

Call us back to that Transfiguration moment so that we remember once more that we really are not alone. You are here with us. You are Emmanuel. You only wish your children to open our eyes and listen with our hearts to the signs and wonders you will spread out for us.

Some of us here face hard things in our lives. Some of our loved ones face difficult decisions and carry burdens that are heavy.

Our world convulses with enormous problems. Yet here, we grow quiet that we might be prepared for whatever transfiguration you still bring your children.

Open our eyes until there is enough light to make it through whatever the world throws our way.

Unstop our ears, that amid all the voices that surround us we will hear that clear sure word that comes from you.

We give you thanks that we are not alone. Thank you God for being with us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we bring our petitions. Amen.