FEBRUARY 7, 2016
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
SCRIPTURE: Hebrew Bible: Exodus 34: 29-35
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 3: 12 – 4: 2
Gospel: Contemporary Reading: A Mountain to Remember Luke 9: 28-36
MEDITATION: The “Easy” Transformation
Whenever we look at what is wrong in ourselves, our community, our faith family, our wider world, we want an “easy” transformation. If we are honest with ourselves we know that nothing that needs changing is every “easy” – transformation is always a hard road to travel. Transformation is TOUGH – it is always tough. I came across this prayer in the last couple of weeks and it kept running through my mind.
It’s not that we don’t want to change God.
it’s just that change is really hard.
the challenges of the world threaten to overwhelm us,
the struggles of living each day come close to being too much,
and so we are tempted to grab the quick-fix, the easy solution,
and inevitably, we are disappointed
So we pray,
reach into our hearts with courage and hope,
to embrace the tough transformations,
to make the real and lasting changes,
to seek the truly good answers,
for the sake of our families and communities,
our countries and our continents,
our people and our planet,
for the sake of our very selves.
May we find together and alone,
The strength to climb the mountain
and see your glory
and then to walk to the cross,
through the pain,
until we know the joy and glory
of resurrection. AMEN
It is not by accident that we get this message of transformation on the Sunday before the church begins its journey through Lent and the difficult walk with Jesus toward the cross. It is every Christian’s opportunity to gain strength by remembering those times when we have encountered God’s presence in astounding ways. For some of us that will be a mountaintop experience that seemed to instantaneously change us forever and for others it may be God’s presence in more subtle ways –perhaps even daily – smaller ways that impact our life in a less dramatic way. Whatever it is for us we are meant to remember who we are, beloved and chosen by God and are called to be reflections of Christ. If we do not remember and do not embrace these varied experiences then we are unlikely to be able to act in faithful ways that bring healing to our own live, the lives we encounter on our own journeys and the ability to work and be in the world in a way that makes a difference to our world.
I want to stop for a moment and ask you to reflect on the question, “Why do you come to church? What does worship mean for you?” Think about that for a moment...... ………………………………………..
For some of us it may be a moment in our lives when we can rest from the cares of our everyday lives; for others it might be the place that we come to get strength to go back into the world, renewed and refreshed; for others it might be an escape, a place of illusion; for others it might just be a habit, something we do because we feel guilty if we do not come – taught to us over a life time since childhood; for others it is a place of community – a place where we feel that we belong and where we can be of service to eachother and the world. All of these reasons are valued and have merit. Whatever the reason, there is one reason that is held up for all of us in this transfiguration story – coming to worship, calling ourselves followers of Jesus, is meant to change something in us and in our lives. A community of faith is not a social gathering, it is not a place where it is OK to hurt and harm, it is not a place to exercise power for the sake of power over others and it is not a place of the “easy” way or the “good-enoughness” or that’ll-do-ness” way.
The transfiguration of Jesus causes Jesus to glow with the light of God. Moses, the bearer of law, and Elijah, representing all the prophets, are right beside him. It is as if God is saying through them, “Jesus, you are on the right track.” Then the words from the cloud – “This is my son my Chosen; listen to him!” - further confirm that Jesus’ work, even if it means suffering and death, is exactly what must be faced with God’s help. Not only is Jesus’ ministry confirmed but the disciples also are encouraged. They will need such a sign – a glimpse of the resurrection, of the crown beyond the cross, and of the victory beyond the humiliation of crucifixion. These disciples have hard days and years ahead of them. They will need the memory of this day to strengthen them.
We too need this memory to steady us in our future. January has been a tough month for this community of faith. We have worried about the health of many whom we love, Rosanna, Doreen, Roger and others and we have grieved the death of Rosanna. Our wider community, here in Saskatchewan has been shocked and alarmed by the violence in La Loche. Grieving our loss is hard work; working to restore the unforgivable acts of violence in our world is hard work; helping people who seem to be beyond help is hard work; giving one more ounce of care and concern when we think we’re running on empty is hard work; continuing to share our gifts and financial resources even when there is no immediate return is hard work. The way of the disciples of the past and our way of disciples of the present is hard work, it is tough work, and it is work that calls for transformation of ourselves, our community, our faith community and our wider world. There is no “easy way”. To be part of the transformation of the violence in La Loche, which is a product of countless years of colonialism and racism, will not be easy. It will not be quick, and it will take every bit of our commitment and courage to be part of transforming the “bad” in each of us and our society into the “good” that God calls from us.
When Jesus came down from the mountain, he went immediately to work, healing a boy plagued by seizures. The cross awaits Jesus in Jerusalem, but God is determined to accomplish good things through him every day along the way. The entire ministry of Jesus makes this clear. God’s will is part of each day in our lives too. Even though the way ahead is difficult, confusing, challenging, long and difficult, God is at work to accomplish good through our words and deeds.
God is always working to transform us so that we in turn can transform our world. Every time you and I forgive a wrong; every time we are generous to those in need; every time we take the time to support someone else in despair or grief; every time we teach a child about the faith; every time and any time we seek to bring hope and healing to a hurting world we are part of the tough work of transformation. In our journey of faith, may we remember the transfiguration, remembering that God is at work, bringing light and hope to the world that God loves. Like the disciples, we also bear this light. It is a life long journey that we undertake because we can do nothing else. A journey in which we are held by God, taught by Jesus’ life and committed to because we are the hands, feet and heart of God here and now. May we be transformed for the journey ahead. Always. AMEN