LENT 2, 28 Feb 2010
Luke 13:31-35
We have some challenging readings this morning. We have Abraham, who is offered everything he wants, everything God thinks he has missed out on in his life, yet he still has a hard time believing it will happen. And so he challenges God. He doesn’t trust God to deliver on his promise. Our epistle has a similar theme – Paul is challenging those people to live their lives differently. And they seem to resist his promises on God’s behalf. Struggle and mis-trust. What a very human response. We tend to avoid difficult choices, preferring to keep things as they are. Why rock the boat? Who likes conflict, anyway?
Now let’s look at the Gospel. We have some Pharisees running up to Jesus. The Pharisees. What do we know about them? Well, technically, they are a sect of Judaism, they are a political party, they are a social organisation. They are so committed to keeping the Torah’s purity laws, they create additional laws covering the nuances. They are known to us, through Mark’s Gospel, to be the Jews that offer the most opposition to Jesus and his followers. They were so strict in following the rules that they would not eat or socialise with people who did not, as they considered them to be unclean. Other sects of Jews, including the group called “Followers of the Way” – we’ll get back to them – interpreted this behaviour as arrogant, snobby, Stand-off-ish. They started considering the Pharisees to be the Bad Guys, hypocrites, nasty folk that we wouldn’t want to spend time with even if we could. The Pharisees became “Them.” Not as good or holy or smart as “Us.”
And yet – this gospel story opens with the Pharisees. Them. Those people. What do we expect from them when we see them walking up? Criticism, derogatory comments, negativity towards Jesus and his followers. It’s what they normally do. Why should today be any different? Yet here they are, giving Jesus a warning. “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you”. As if to say, “Look, Jesus, friend – I know we don’t always get along. I know we’ve been harsh in the past. We disagree on so many things, and have never really had a chance to chat about what and why, but you know we’d not harm you. But for now, please believe me – your life is in danger! Herod – the bad guy – he’s coming, and it’s not good!”
This is completely unexpected. The Pharisees know Jesus’ teachings have been rocking the boat, which is why Herod wants Him out of the picture. And here they are trying to save him, to aid his continuing in rocking the boat. And Jesus’ reply, that the Pharisees go back and challenge Herod’s authority, confuses them even more. Jesus knows that he has work to continue to do. He is still needing to teach, cast out demons, heal people. So he ignores the warning that he is in danger, and continues working. He even has a bit of a challenge back to Herod, through the Pharisees.
Now, we work very hard to make sure that this type of “he-said-she-said” stuff does NOT happen. It’s called triangulation, and it’s a bad thing. Especially when insults are involved. And to call Herod a fox is indeed an insult. What do foxes do? They invade the henhouse and leave a path of death and destruction. And who does Jesus refer to as the hens? The people of Jerusalem. So his followers and the Pharisees hear him say that Herod will cause death and destruction in Jerusalem with the very people that Jesus is trying to protect and offer motherly, unconditional love to. Jerusalem, the henhouse full of ‘hens’ who are in need of care and nourishment so that they might grow strong, now in danger from a fox. Jesus seems to hint that the people of Jerusalem are so concerned about saving themselves that they are not being true to themselves and true to God. They present whatever is necessary to not ‘rock the boat’ to keep a semblance of peace. That’s why prophets and outsiders are murdered throughout it’s history – their words may disturb the peace, and the people are so spiritually uncertain that they cannot bear the instability.
So Jesus turns to everyone gathered – his followers, the Pharisees, the people he had been teaching – and gives them a challenge. “Your house is left to you.” Basically, he’s saying – “OK folks, what happens next is up to you. You decide if you are going to be a hen, brooded over by my love, and standing up together against the lone fox. Or, if you’re going to sit in your house, afraid. Afraid of everyone who is different, who says things that challenge society. The choice is yours – but you won’t see me – really see who I am and what I’m offering – until you can say ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’.”
So – who do you want to be? Do you want to be a Pharisee, one of them? Do you want to be one of Jesus’ followers, one of us, learning his cryptic teachings and trying to follow them? Do you want to be part of the other sect, the Followers of the Way? Well, over history, all thr groups changed a bit. The Pharisees over time became teachers of the original rules, and are now known to us as the Rabbinic (or Orthodox) Jews. They are our brothers and sisters, with whom we share a history and tradition. Jesus’ followers – well, we know where we ended up. What we may not know is that the critical “Followers of the Way” is us. That was the name Christians went by at the time of Christ. They were the followers of Jesus. They were as critical of the Pharisees as the Pharisees were of them. Early Christians were just as human, just as guilty as everyone else – they got caught up in human challenges, in choosing safety over truth, in inter-personal conflict.
So Jesus’ lesson here is for everyone around him. He’s challenging folks to recognise that they have somehow developed an us-them conflict, and he wants it stopped. He wants people to celebrate the truth of God – HIS truth. Jesus challenges them, as he challenges us, to see that the people we love and the people we dislike are equally beloved by God. That the very nature of creating this us-them conflict takes us away from the all-encompassing parental love that God offers us.
May our Lenten challenge this week be to spend some time reflecting on God’s love for all of us. May we hold within our prayers those people we already love. May we think very deeply on those people we dislike, and see that we dislike their words or actions, but that we can –and are indeed called to - love them as children of God. And then we can receive God’s love, blessing the one who comes in His name. May we have the strength, perseverance, and faith this week to see beyond the boundaries of us-them into a better world of a wider We.
Copyright 2010 LMP
27 February 2010
20 February 2010
Temptation...
Sermon on Lent 1
Luke 4:1-13
This past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, we acknowledged the beginning of Lent. The service reminds us that as we journey toward Easter, we speak of the “frailty and uncertainty” of our lives, and mark “the penitence of the community as a whole.” We are then invited to “observe a Holy Lent by self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and by reading and meditating on the word of God.”
The season of Lent is traditionally a time of giving something up – something that has unique and substantial meaning to us as individuals. For some people Lent is a time to focus on giving up bad habits, such as smoking or sweets, for others is it a time to focus on taking on new good habits, such as increased self-care or a new prayer routine. Whatever our Lenten journey is, it is a journey that will change us, ideally, to be more closely in tune with ourselves and with God. It is a time of test and temptation, a time where we recognise our own weaknesses, and lean on others, especially God, for support.
And why do we need this support? To resist temptation. To deny ourselves that piece of cake, to avoid hitting the snooze button instead of getting up early for morning prayer. To do our humanly best to observe this holy season. And yet we find ways to justify our actions when we succumb to temptation. We might justify that piece of cake if we went to the gym. We might skip prayer, believing that it’s more important for us to get those extra 10 minutes of sleep, or promising ourselves that we’ll do evening prayer tonight instead. It’s the temptation, especially when we’re at our spiritual weak point, that is our downfall.
Temptation is defined as “a cause or enticement, often toward evil.” And what better example of this can we find but in this morning’s Gospel. Jesus is going through a time of self-denial. He’s alone in the wilderness, taking time away from the tasks of everyday life to focus on a spiritual journey of prayer, meditation, self-care. He’s fasting, so he is physically weak. And, right on cue, in walks temptation. In the physical form of the Devil. With fantastic promises.
The devil knows that Jesus is hungry, so he tempts him to eat. He appeals to the basic physical need for food, challenging Jesus to turn a stone into a loaf of bread. He likely taunted him, saying things like: ‘It’s exactly what you want. No one is watching, no one will know you’ve done it. It will do your body good – you need the nourishment; it’s hot out here in the desert. Prove to me that you are the Son of God by performing this tiny, easy miracle.’ And yet Jesus refuses to do this simple task.
And so the devil tries a different strategy, pitching temptation to the power agenda, promising the authority in all the kingdoms in the world. ‘Come on, Jesus, you know you want everyone to worship Your Father through you, I can make that happen with the authority you seek. I will give you the glory and authority of all those people – just one tiny detail, you have to worship me – then I will give you all of this, and more.’ And again Jesus refuses.
So the devil tries a third strategy, this time using Scripture as a test, taking Jesus to a challenging location and taunting him to use his supernatural connections – God’s angels – to get him out of the place unharmed. ‘Okay then, Jesus, if you’re as amazing as you think you are, then use the assets given you by your Father and fulfill the Holy Writings. If you don’t, you’re just a guy that says some good stuff, and I am proving that I am better than you are.’ And Jesus again refuses.
The Devil at this point realises that he has been beaten, and so he leaves Jesus for the time being. He recognises that Jesus is not just defying the challenges and refusing his ego, but that Jesus has the strength to follow the scriptures. Jesus uses the scriptures, the Holy Word of God, as the force which grants him authority over the Devil. He doesn’t get into a debate on semantics, he doesn’t engage with the devil about what he personally would prefer. He returns completely to the written word.
He quotes: “One does not live by bread alone” thereby denying his own immediate hunger for the greater good of the whole world. He quotes “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him” and challenges the Devils claim to having authority over the nations. He quotes “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” to make sure that the Devil knows exactly who he is trying to tempt, and that Jesus will not fail.
Jesus is also pointing out to the Devil that he knows that the promises made are, quite simply, too good to be true. The Devil has promised the world for the taking – physical needs, authority, and proof of Divinity – but Jesus knows deep down that even if he wanted to, the Devil could not deliver on these promises. The test of turning a stone to bread is a childish test to determine if Jesus can be easily led astray – and the Devil fails. The offer to give the authority of all the kingdoms is, realistically, false advertising. The Devil fails here because Jesus knows that he is lying, and does not believe such vile tricks. In challenging Jesus to prove his divinity at the threat of personal danger, the Devil fails because Jesus knows that he is a Spiritual Being having a Human experience, and that the soul is stronger than the flesh.
Jesus knows that the Devil will use whatever means necessary to trick Him away from his spiritual journey, and he does not allow that to happen. As we are on our own spiritual journey this Lent, we too must recognise that we will be tempted as well. We will be tempted, at our weakest moments, to choose our personal preferences over the larger spiritual goal. We will be tempted by untruths that seem, on the surface, to be meeting our spiritual goals, but we will know deep down that the promise is too good to be true, and thus recognise that it isn’t true. We will be tempted to prefer physical comforts over spiritual growth. May we be as eloquent as Jesus when we rebuke the Devil and refuse these temptations.
We know – as Jesus did – that the Devil will use whatever tools He can find to try and pull us away from our Lenten journey. Just as our Lenten fast is private and unique to each of us, so will the temptations we face be ‘tailor-made’ to challenge us the most. Our victory, like that of Christ, will be when we remain firm to our faith and strong to our practices, and thus – like Jesus – cast aside the Devil and his pathetic attempts to separate us from the love and joy of God. And so, as we enter the first full week of this journey, may our prayer again be for strength, perseverance and faith as we walk the path toward Easter.
Copyright 2010 LMP
Luke 4:1-13
This past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, we acknowledged the beginning of Lent. The service reminds us that as we journey toward Easter, we speak of the “frailty and uncertainty” of our lives, and mark “the penitence of the community as a whole.” We are then invited to “observe a Holy Lent by self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and by reading and meditating on the word of God.”
The season of Lent is traditionally a time of giving something up – something that has unique and substantial meaning to us as individuals. For some people Lent is a time to focus on giving up bad habits, such as smoking or sweets, for others is it a time to focus on taking on new good habits, such as increased self-care or a new prayer routine. Whatever our Lenten journey is, it is a journey that will change us, ideally, to be more closely in tune with ourselves and with God. It is a time of test and temptation, a time where we recognise our own weaknesses, and lean on others, especially God, for support.
And why do we need this support? To resist temptation. To deny ourselves that piece of cake, to avoid hitting the snooze button instead of getting up early for morning prayer. To do our humanly best to observe this holy season. And yet we find ways to justify our actions when we succumb to temptation. We might justify that piece of cake if we went to the gym. We might skip prayer, believing that it’s more important for us to get those extra 10 minutes of sleep, or promising ourselves that we’ll do evening prayer tonight instead. It’s the temptation, especially when we’re at our spiritual weak point, that is our downfall.
Temptation is defined as “a cause or enticement, often toward evil.” And what better example of this can we find but in this morning’s Gospel. Jesus is going through a time of self-denial. He’s alone in the wilderness, taking time away from the tasks of everyday life to focus on a spiritual journey of prayer, meditation, self-care. He’s fasting, so he is physically weak. And, right on cue, in walks temptation. In the physical form of the Devil. With fantastic promises.
The devil knows that Jesus is hungry, so he tempts him to eat. He appeals to the basic physical need for food, challenging Jesus to turn a stone into a loaf of bread. He likely taunted him, saying things like: ‘It’s exactly what you want. No one is watching, no one will know you’ve done it. It will do your body good – you need the nourishment; it’s hot out here in the desert. Prove to me that you are the Son of God by performing this tiny, easy miracle.’ And yet Jesus refuses to do this simple task.
And so the devil tries a different strategy, pitching temptation to the power agenda, promising the authority in all the kingdoms in the world. ‘Come on, Jesus, you know you want everyone to worship Your Father through you, I can make that happen with the authority you seek. I will give you the glory and authority of all those people – just one tiny detail, you have to worship me – then I will give you all of this, and more.’ And again Jesus refuses.
So the devil tries a third strategy, this time using Scripture as a test, taking Jesus to a challenging location and taunting him to use his supernatural connections – God’s angels – to get him out of the place unharmed. ‘Okay then, Jesus, if you’re as amazing as you think you are, then use the assets given you by your Father and fulfill the Holy Writings. If you don’t, you’re just a guy that says some good stuff, and I am proving that I am better than you are.’ And Jesus again refuses.
The Devil at this point realises that he has been beaten, and so he leaves Jesus for the time being. He recognises that Jesus is not just defying the challenges and refusing his ego, but that Jesus has the strength to follow the scriptures. Jesus uses the scriptures, the Holy Word of God, as the force which grants him authority over the Devil. He doesn’t get into a debate on semantics, he doesn’t engage with the devil about what he personally would prefer. He returns completely to the written word.
He quotes: “One does not live by bread alone” thereby denying his own immediate hunger for the greater good of the whole world. He quotes “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him” and challenges the Devils claim to having authority over the nations. He quotes “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” to make sure that the Devil knows exactly who he is trying to tempt, and that Jesus will not fail.
Jesus is also pointing out to the Devil that he knows that the promises made are, quite simply, too good to be true. The Devil has promised the world for the taking – physical needs, authority, and proof of Divinity – but Jesus knows deep down that even if he wanted to, the Devil could not deliver on these promises. The test of turning a stone to bread is a childish test to determine if Jesus can be easily led astray – and the Devil fails. The offer to give the authority of all the kingdoms is, realistically, false advertising. The Devil fails here because Jesus knows that he is lying, and does not believe such vile tricks. In challenging Jesus to prove his divinity at the threat of personal danger, the Devil fails because Jesus knows that he is a Spiritual Being having a Human experience, and that the soul is stronger than the flesh.
Jesus knows that the Devil will use whatever means necessary to trick Him away from his spiritual journey, and he does not allow that to happen. As we are on our own spiritual journey this Lent, we too must recognise that we will be tempted as well. We will be tempted, at our weakest moments, to choose our personal preferences over the larger spiritual goal. We will be tempted by untruths that seem, on the surface, to be meeting our spiritual goals, but we will know deep down that the promise is too good to be true, and thus recognise that it isn’t true. We will be tempted to prefer physical comforts over spiritual growth. May we be as eloquent as Jesus when we rebuke the Devil and refuse these temptations.
We know – as Jesus did – that the Devil will use whatever tools He can find to try and pull us away from our Lenten journey. Just as our Lenten fast is private and unique to each of us, so will the temptations we face be ‘tailor-made’ to challenge us the most. Our victory, like that of Christ, will be when we remain firm to our faith and strong to our practices, and thus – like Jesus – cast aside the Devil and his pathetic attempts to separate us from the love and joy of God. And so, as we enter the first full week of this journey, may our prayer again be for strength, perseverance and faith as we walk the path toward Easter.
Copyright 2010 LMP
13 February 2010
Aspiring to Greatness
Feast of the Transfiguration
Luke 9:28-43
I’m willing to bet that each and every one of us has had at least one moment where we thought that the world was perfect, that there was no way it could ever get better. These are the moments that words cannot fully describe – because they are so significant, so emotional, so truly amazing. These perfect moments are ones we try to hold on to, to keep with us. And we know that it is burned into our hearts and memories and is integral to everything else we will ever do – because it is, for us, that moment when we feel closest to our creator, and as a result we have been changed.
Throughout history, there have been significant moments like these that we share as a culture. These “flashbulb” moments, which, to be fair, may need to be renamed soon as modern technology changes so much so that younger generations have no idea what a flashbulb is. But we have those times when time seems to stand still and we are simply in awe. In our living memory, we have the first view of earth from space, the first moon landing, the mapping of the human genome, the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls, - the list goes on. The world right now is gathered around such perfect moments in sports – we celebrate our Olympic athletes, sharing their moments as they perform tremendous acts in an effort for that podium moment. And let’s be honest – we’re all hoping to share in a podium moment with Jon Montgomery this week!
Take a minute to think about your own perfect moment or moments. Whatever it is that made your heart swell in the instant of being fully human - a wedding, a birth, whatever – think about that moment of greatness. Were you alone? Probably not. Whatever your moment is, undoubtedly there were other people involved – in the moment itself as well as in the lead up to that moment. For, as with anything great, it takes determination and effort to get there. There has to be a build-up and preparation. For the great moments in history, there have been countless scientists, philosophers, engineers, professors, etc. involved. For our athletes, there have been years of trainers and nutritionists and doctors. For us individuals, there have been family members, friends, and neighbours. There is no moment of greatness without time spent in community.
And yet – it all culminates in that high point. That second of perfection – and this is the time that we try to keep forever. This is why we have photographs and videos of our life’s events, this is why we keep mementos of such events. We want to hold onto that moment of greatness. That moment is as good as it gets; and if we could we might want to live in that bliss forever.
This is exactly what’s happening with the disciples in this morning’s gospel. Peter and John and James are going out with Jesus to pray. This is not an unusual occurrence. But it does start almost as though we’re in the middle of the story. The gospel starts with “Now about eight days after these sayings…”. If we read back a bit, we discover that the gospel is referring to Jesus having foretold his death and resurrection. The disciples at this point were probably thinking that they had no idea when or what to expect from Jesus. Jesus – their great religious teacher, their friend, their companion – has told them that he will die, and come back to life. It sounds odd, and to be fair, weird. Unheard of. Impossible. Can you imagine what the disciples are thinking? Maybe Jesus has been under a lot of stress and needs a break, or maybe he’s embellishing when speaking of his gifts and skills, or some other logical explanation. But to die and come back to life? What crazy talk!
And then for a few days nothing abnormal happens, things seem to be calming down again. The disciples must be feeling a bit better about how things are going – no more random talk of death and new life, just teachings and healings and now some quiet prayer time. How lovely – just the way things used to be.
And then – suddenly and unexpectedly – the disciples see Jesus in a new way – they see his face glowing, and his clothes a dazzling white! As though the very presence of light was coming from within him, all during the time when he prays. Miraculous. And – shocking – Jesus is no longer alone. He is with two other people, who are also looking unnaturally glowing and glorious. It doesn’t take too long for Peter to recognise these men as Moses and Elijah – because these were the heroes of the day. These were the persons from history that were used as examples of greatness. As people would gather they were told the stories of Elijah and Moses, and how God favoured them, and how their lives were altered because of their great faith, and of the wondrous things that were accomplished by them, and how they prove the greatness of God active in the world. Moses and Elijah! Standing there, with Jesus! What a perfect moment.
All Peter wants is to keep that moment alive – to hold it firm, to maintain it. This may be one of the perfect moments of his life. And so, trying to offer hospitality and act appropriately, he suggests that three dwellings be made – really, one cannot allow the greatest people in one’s history to stay outside without event a house to call home! Peter is excited, he is overcome with emotion, and he is savouring the moment. So his offer to build is simply him blurting out an idea, with the best of intentions, with a significant amount of energy and enthusiasm.
Obviously, the moment cannot last, and so building structures on the mountain is not feasible. Reflecting on it, building homes for Moses and Elijah is not really going to work, as they are not of this world; and Jesus will soon be dead and raised, so a house is not the most important thing he needs. And Peter must have known that at some deep level. And God’s response to Peter is not a rebuke but a gentle reminder of what is really important in this scenario – Jesus’ words. God speaks to Peter with infinite patience, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” And Peter understands.
God’s message to Peter is to live in the here and the now. We must not get caught up trying to hold too tightly to the past, but we must celebrate the present and be aware of the future. If we get tied down to how things used to be, of just one moment, then we become stagnant, and we will not move forward. Jesus’ transfiguration was a perfect moment, but it was not his only moment. It was the moment when the disciples saw him in a very different way – and that influenced their actions for the rest of His – and their - lives.
With that new perspective, and confirmation from God that Jesus is God’s Son, the disciples now recognized that his speaking of death and resurrection was not weird and unnatural, but that it was Jesus preparing them for their own futures, and for the future of the world. Jesus’ transfiguration changed not just his physical appearance for a short time, but the disciples’ lives and ministries. They took that perfect moment, remembered it, and had their lives changed as a result.
The people that Jesus meets immediately following the mountaintop experience, however, do not see that a perfect moment has taken place – they do not recognise a change. They simply see the person of Jesus back in town, and bring to this famous healer someone else in need of his work. Their sight is still limited and unchanged. Jesus uses this as another teaching moment for his disciples. With astounding patience, he replies to the man that he is of a “faithless and perverse generation”, one that does not recognise him for who he truly is. This demonstrates that some people will get caught up in the moment, and only use tunnel vision for their own needs. The man wants his son physically healed, and he knows of Jesus’ reputation as a healer. He is searching for an immediate casting out of a demon by an expert. The message to the disciples and all true believers, however, is that true faith will continue to heal even without the presence of the person of Jesus. This message is incredibly important, especially to the disciples, who have just realised that their time with Jesus is limited.
And before anyone could learn from this that they ought to only serve those with great faith, Jesus shows his ultimate compassion and the truth of his being. He tells the man, “Bring your son here” and then heals the boy. The man has had his physical needs met, whether or not he learns the message of true spiritual health through faith. The disciples see the miracle of the physical healing as well as the miracle of the spiritual promise, thus proving that they truly understand why Jesus has been shown to the transfigured.
The disciples’ perspectives have been radically changed because of their perfect moments. They are wise enough to see the change for what it is, and to apply the new perspectives to their ministries, to better them. Think back again to your own perfect moment. Let the joy of that moment live in you, and always be aware of how your perspectives have been changed as a result. God gave you that perfect moment, that miracle, so that you too could see your personal closeness to God, and to use that closeness to be a gift to the world around you. Be astounded at the greatness of God. Take the blessing of that moment and see it as a dazzling light within yourself – then “Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Copyright 2010 LMP
Luke 9:28-43
I’m willing to bet that each and every one of us has had at least one moment where we thought that the world was perfect, that there was no way it could ever get better. These are the moments that words cannot fully describe – because they are so significant, so emotional, so truly amazing. These perfect moments are ones we try to hold on to, to keep with us. And we know that it is burned into our hearts and memories and is integral to everything else we will ever do – because it is, for us, that moment when we feel closest to our creator, and as a result we have been changed.
Throughout history, there have been significant moments like these that we share as a culture. These “flashbulb” moments, which, to be fair, may need to be renamed soon as modern technology changes so much so that younger generations have no idea what a flashbulb is. But we have those times when time seems to stand still and we are simply in awe. In our living memory, we have the first view of earth from space, the first moon landing, the mapping of the human genome, the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls, - the list goes on. The world right now is gathered around such perfect moments in sports – we celebrate our Olympic athletes, sharing their moments as they perform tremendous acts in an effort for that podium moment. And let’s be honest – we’re all hoping to share in a podium moment with Jon Montgomery this week!
Take a minute to think about your own perfect moment or moments. Whatever it is that made your heart swell in the instant of being fully human - a wedding, a birth, whatever – think about that moment of greatness. Were you alone? Probably not. Whatever your moment is, undoubtedly there were other people involved – in the moment itself as well as in the lead up to that moment. For, as with anything great, it takes determination and effort to get there. There has to be a build-up and preparation. For the great moments in history, there have been countless scientists, philosophers, engineers, professors, etc. involved. For our athletes, there have been years of trainers and nutritionists and doctors. For us individuals, there have been family members, friends, and neighbours. There is no moment of greatness without time spent in community.
And yet – it all culminates in that high point. That second of perfection – and this is the time that we try to keep forever. This is why we have photographs and videos of our life’s events, this is why we keep mementos of such events. We want to hold onto that moment of greatness. That moment is as good as it gets; and if we could we might want to live in that bliss forever.
This is exactly what’s happening with the disciples in this morning’s gospel. Peter and John and James are going out with Jesus to pray. This is not an unusual occurrence. But it does start almost as though we’re in the middle of the story. The gospel starts with “Now about eight days after these sayings…”. If we read back a bit, we discover that the gospel is referring to Jesus having foretold his death and resurrection. The disciples at this point were probably thinking that they had no idea when or what to expect from Jesus. Jesus – their great religious teacher, their friend, their companion – has told them that he will die, and come back to life. It sounds odd, and to be fair, weird. Unheard of. Impossible. Can you imagine what the disciples are thinking? Maybe Jesus has been under a lot of stress and needs a break, or maybe he’s embellishing when speaking of his gifts and skills, or some other logical explanation. But to die and come back to life? What crazy talk!
And then for a few days nothing abnormal happens, things seem to be calming down again. The disciples must be feeling a bit better about how things are going – no more random talk of death and new life, just teachings and healings and now some quiet prayer time. How lovely – just the way things used to be.
And then – suddenly and unexpectedly – the disciples see Jesus in a new way – they see his face glowing, and his clothes a dazzling white! As though the very presence of light was coming from within him, all during the time when he prays. Miraculous. And – shocking – Jesus is no longer alone. He is with two other people, who are also looking unnaturally glowing and glorious. It doesn’t take too long for Peter to recognise these men as Moses and Elijah – because these were the heroes of the day. These were the persons from history that were used as examples of greatness. As people would gather they were told the stories of Elijah and Moses, and how God favoured them, and how their lives were altered because of their great faith, and of the wondrous things that were accomplished by them, and how they prove the greatness of God active in the world. Moses and Elijah! Standing there, with Jesus! What a perfect moment.
All Peter wants is to keep that moment alive – to hold it firm, to maintain it. This may be one of the perfect moments of his life. And so, trying to offer hospitality and act appropriately, he suggests that three dwellings be made – really, one cannot allow the greatest people in one’s history to stay outside without event a house to call home! Peter is excited, he is overcome with emotion, and he is savouring the moment. So his offer to build is simply him blurting out an idea, with the best of intentions, with a significant amount of energy and enthusiasm.
Obviously, the moment cannot last, and so building structures on the mountain is not feasible. Reflecting on it, building homes for Moses and Elijah is not really going to work, as they are not of this world; and Jesus will soon be dead and raised, so a house is not the most important thing he needs. And Peter must have known that at some deep level. And God’s response to Peter is not a rebuke but a gentle reminder of what is really important in this scenario – Jesus’ words. God speaks to Peter with infinite patience, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” And Peter understands.
God’s message to Peter is to live in the here and the now. We must not get caught up trying to hold too tightly to the past, but we must celebrate the present and be aware of the future. If we get tied down to how things used to be, of just one moment, then we become stagnant, and we will not move forward. Jesus’ transfiguration was a perfect moment, but it was not his only moment. It was the moment when the disciples saw him in a very different way – and that influenced their actions for the rest of His – and their - lives.
With that new perspective, and confirmation from God that Jesus is God’s Son, the disciples now recognized that his speaking of death and resurrection was not weird and unnatural, but that it was Jesus preparing them for their own futures, and for the future of the world. Jesus’ transfiguration changed not just his physical appearance for a short time, but the disciples’ lives and ministries. They took that perfect moment, remembered it, and had their lives changed as a result.
The people that Jesus meets immediately following the mountaintop experience, however, do not see that a perfect moment has taken place – they do not recognise a change. They simply see the person of Jesus back in town, and bring to this famous healer someone else in need of his work. Their sight is still limited and unchanged. Jesus uses this as another teaching moment for his disciples. With astounding patience, he replies to the man that he is of a “faithless and perverse generation”, one that does not recognise him for who he truly is. This demonstrates that some people will get caught up in the moment, and only use tunnel vision for their own needs. The man wants his son physically healed, and he knows of Jesus’ reputation as a healer. He is searching for an immediate casting out of a demon by an expert. The message to the disciples and all true believers, however, is that true faith will continue to heal even without the presence of the person of Jesus. This message is incredibly important, especially to the disciples, who have just realised that their time with Jesus is limited.
And before anyone could learn from this that they ought to only serve those with great faith, Jesus shows his ultimate compassion and the truth of his being. He tells the man, “Bring your son here” and then heals the boy. The man has had his physical needs met, whether or not he learns the message of true spiritual health through faith. The disciples see the miracle of the physical healing as well as the miracle of the spiritual promise, thus proving that they truly understand why Jesus has been shown to the transfigured.
The disciples’ perspectives have been radically changed because of their perfect moments. They are wise enough to see the change for what it is, and to apply the new perspectives to their ministries, to better them. Think back again to your own perfect moment. Let the joy of that moment live in you, and always be aware of how your perspectives have been changed as a result. God gave you that perfect moment, that miracle, so that you too could see your personal closeness to God, and to use that closeness to be a gift to the world around you. Be astounded at the greatness of God. Take the blessing of that moment and see it as a dazzling light within yourself – then “Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Copyright 2010 LMP
07 February 2010
Convictions (sermon, 07 Feb 2010)
CONVICTIONS
What are your convictions? What are those things that seem to make up the very essence of who you are? We all have them – those things that seem to set our hearts on fire, to stir up our souls. Those beliefs that we know are completely unique, based on our own individual experiences and histories, but that we still want to share with everyone we meet. They are like coloured threads that make up who and what we are – threads weaving into unique patterns and textures, threads that weave together to make the fabric of who we are.
So what are those threads like for you? And how do they show themselves to the world around you? I believe that who we are at our core will show itself very clearly – it’s so real that it cannot be hidden. It is like a light that shines from within. Our threads, our light, may have to do with our families, our employment, our homes, our friends, our volunteering, our pets – anything that we care about deeply will be it’s own thread, making up part of our fabric.
Our fabrics themselves are going to be unique and ever changing. Many cultures around the world share stories in the unique weaves of their fabrics, with each colour and design having a distinct meaning. Messages can be passed by unique fabrics (as with Kentee cloth in Ghana), communities are identified (such as Scottish clans), even social status can be articulated (in Biblical times only kings could wear purple).
So – your threads, your convictions - how strong are they? What would you be willing to give up in order to maintain them? In our scripture today, we hear about the conviction of Isaiah. “Here I am! Send me!” Isaiah is not simply asking for a nice vacation, a simple journey, though his eagerness does seem to suggest a positive trip. The Lord is seeking someone with the strength and conviction to give up all that they have established in their community, to go forth and spread God’s message.
Likewise, in the gospel, the disciples (after finally catching enough fish to support their families) are leaving the lives they know to venture into the unknown. They are so convinced of the power of Jesus that they leave the food to rot or be stolen by strangers, they leave their families without immediate care (a considerable taboo in those days), they even abandon their boat, the very tool needed for their trade. All because of their convictions. They must have known that with Jesus, the challenge to follow him was not a short-term folly, but a long-term commitment.
The messages this morning are of strong threads, of strong convictions. Similarly, OUR story is one of strong convictions as well. We have just entered a new venture as a new wider parish grouping. We are putting our faith in God to see us through this journey, just as the Isaiah went forth with his sin blotted out, just as the disciples walked away from the fishes. We are leaving behind the way things used to be, and moving forward with trust. The disciples were open to new possibilities, in casting out their nets that one more time. With that act of faith, they were rewarded with an overabundance. With faith comes surprises!
Our faith, in this new parish grouping, is our strongest thread. It is what will bind us together, it is what will be the basis of our work as a family. Each of us is bringing to this family a unique thread – each of us is contributing to the weave; each of our threads is necessary to make it a success. With faith, together we will weave a new net – strong, durable, welcoming and inviting. For, as Jesus indicates, as his followers, we should move forward without being afraid, ready to catch people – for His sake.
Together – let’s go fishing.
Amen.
Copyright 2010 LMP
What are your convictions? What are those things that seem to make up the very essence of who you are? We all have them – those things that seem to set our hearts on fire, to stir up our souls. Those beliefs that we know are completely unique, based on our own individual experiences and histories, but that we still want to share with everyone we meet. They are like coloured threads that make up who and what we are – threads weaving into unique patterns and textures, threads that weave together to make the fabric of who we are.
So what are those threads like for you? And how do they show themselves to the world around you? I believe that who we are at our core will show itself very clearly – it’s so real that it cannot be hidden. It is like a light that shines from within. Our threads, our light, may have to do with our families, our employment, our homes, our friends, our volunteering, our pets – anything that we care about deeply will be it’s own thread, making up part of our fabric.
Our fabrics themselves are going to be unique and ever changing. Many cultures around the world share stories in the unique weaves of their fabrics, with each colour and design having a distinct meaning. Messages can be passed by unique fabrics (as with Kentee cloth in Ghana), communities are identified (such as Scottish clans), even social status can be articulated (in Biblical times only kings could wear purple).
So – your threads, your convictions - how strong are they? What would you be willing to give up in order to maintain them? In our scripture today, we hear about the conviction of Isaiah. “Here I am! Send me!” Isaiah is not simply asking for a nice vacation, a simple journey, though his eagerness does seem to suggest a positive trip. The Lord is seeking someone with the strength and conviction to give up all that they have established in their community, to go forth and spread God’s message.
Likewise, in the gospel, the disciples (after finally catching enough fish to support their families) are leaving the lives they know to venture into the unknown. They are so convinced of the power of Jesus that they leave the food to rot or be stolen by strangers, they leave their families without immediate care (a considerable taboo in those days), they even abandon their boat, the very tool needed for their trade. All because of their convictions. They must have known that with Jesus, the challenge to follow him was not a short-term folly, but a long-term commitment.
The messages this morning are of strong threads, of strong convictions. Similarly, OUR story is one of strong convictions as well. We have just entered a new venture as a new wider parish grouping. We are putting our faith in God to see us through this journey, just as the Isaiah went forth with his sin blotted out, just as the disciples walked away from the fishes. We are leaving behind the way things used to be, and moving forward with trust. The disciples were open to new possibilities, in casting out their nets that one more time. With that act of faith, they were rewarded with an overabundance. With faith comes surprises!
Our faith, in this new parish grouping, is our strongest thread. It is what will bind us together, it is what will be the basis of our work as a family. Each of us is bringing to this family a unique thread – each of us is contributing to the weave; each of our threads is necessary to make it a success. With faith, together we will weave a new net – strong, durable, welcoming and inviting. For, as Jesus indicates, as his followers, we should move forward without being afraid, ready to catch people – for His sake.
Together – let’s go fishing.
Amen.
Copyright 2010 LMP
03 February 2010
I know the coolest people...
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/detour/its-in-his-nature-83137162.html
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