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“T-SHIRT PREACHING"

The Transfiguration of the Lord

February 7, 2016

Joseph Andrew Slane

Southminster Presbyterian Church

Exodus 34:29-35 II Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Luke 9:28-36

Speak, Lord, for Your servants are listening … Amen.

The study at home, as opposed to the one at church is, for me, the primary space for sermon preparation. Nearly two years ago I was sitting at my desk at home trying to prepare a rough draft for a sermon.

I was experiencing writer's block. I've learned taking a short break and physically moving to a different location for a couple of minutes often helps. So I went upstairs to see Krista. She was at her desk paying bills. I said to my wife, "Krista, I'm stuck on this sermon. Please pray I'll be inspired."

A little while later, after I was back at the desk, Krista walked into my study. She said, "Joe, this may help you preach." She tossed me a thin catalog. It was opened to a page promoting specialty t-shirts.[1]

The first one that caught my eye was a blue t-shirt. I'll give you the top line of what was printed and then the lower one in a different font. It read, "I'll try to be nicer … if you try to be smarter."

"What is Krista telling me," I wondered. Then I noticed she had drawn a circle around the picture of a particular shirt. It had an off-white background with three lines of letters. The top two lines read: "Listen and silent have the same letters." Beneath that, one word followed by a question mark: "Coincidence?"

"Listen and silent have the same letters. Coincidence? Perhaps from the eternal realm Krista inspired me to find that page in preparing today's message. Both words - listen and silent - are in our Gospel lesson.

Luke tells us Jesus is beginning the journey to Jerusalem where he will suffer, die, and be raised again for the salvation of the world. But prior to that Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up a mountain to pray. While there he is transfigured in a glorious way. Prophet Elijah and Moses, the lawgiver, appear with Christ. The three apostles are overwhelmed. Peter wants to do something. Who can blame him? Sometimes we're so uncomfortable with silence we can't help but fill it with words. Peter blurts out, "Master, let me make three dwellings: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Then a cloud overshadows them. From the cloud the voice of the Holy One proclaims, "This is my Son, my chosen; listen to him!" Then Luke writes, "When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen."

Why did the three apostles keep silent? Perhaps because they had encountered something so holy it was beyond description. But obviously they did speak about it or we wouldn't know the story now. They had to keep silent about that mountaintop experience because its meaning would only be revealed after Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead. That's the miracle that transfigures every one of us.

Listen and silent have the same letters. Coincidence?

As we observe Scout Sunday I'm mindful of the official motto, "Be Prepared." You realize in order to be prepared we have to be silent and listen to receive instructions. That's true not just for Scouts, but for us all.

Part of learning to listen for the voice of God in Christ is listening to one another. After all, God speaks to us through other people. A real gift we can offer someone is to genuinely listen. But so often instead of really listening, in our own minds we are formulating our response so that as soon as there's a pause, we can speak.

I believe part of why it's so hard to really listen to other people is because it's difficult for many of us to be still. We have trouble listening to our own heart's desire, that still small voice of calm.

Since returning from pastoral leave I have not quoted my favorite author, Frederick Buechner. Some of you are probably starving for a Buechner quote. Listen! "What deadens us most to God's presence within us," he observes, "is that inner dialogue … we are continuously engaged in with ourselves, the endless chatter of human thought. I suspect that there is nothing more crucial to true spiritual comfort … than being able from time to time to stop that chatter [within us]." He concludes, "If we choose to seek the silence of the holy place, or to open ourselves to its seeking … there is no surer way than by keeping silent."[2]

Listen and silent have the same letters. Coincidence? Perhaps that's why the holiest act of Christian worship is not the reading and preaching of sacred scripture, though with ample reason, that is at the very core of every Service for the Lord's Day. Perhaps that's why spoken or sung prayer is not the central act of worship, though without it we would be lost, God knows.

Perhaps that's why, since the time of the apostles, Christians have discovered the central act of worship is Holy Communion. Obviously the celebration includes scripture, prayer - both spoken and sung. The Sacrament involves seeing, hearing, speaking, smelling, tasting, eating, drinking - and silence! That's no coincidence.

Try this today. Before you receive the Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation offer the prayer elderly Eli taught young Samuel: "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Let's practice. Repeat after me: "Speak Lord … for your servant is listening …"

With that prayer on your lips you may hear or sense a word you desperately need. But even if that is not your experience, believe this with all your heart: any time you pray to Jesus Christ … he will listen to you.

To the God of all majesty: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be glory forever. Alleluia! Amen.

[1] Computer Gear catalog. I tore out the page with the t-shirts and thus cannot give the citation information but you can find it on the website, www.computerGear.com.

[2] Telling Secrets, HarperCollins Publishers, 1991, pages 105-106