Compassionate Community -- A Message for February 14, 2021

Every year, on the last Sunday of Epiphany, on the Eve of Ash Wednesday, we carve one Sunday out of the year to focus on Jesus’s Transfiguration. The Transfiguration was the event when Jesus was shown to his disciples as he truly was – he was both a man and God. The disciples were present with God enfleshed. They were both shocked and overwhelmed by this experienced, but understanding who Jesus was, more than a prophet, more than an evangelist, more than a rebel, helped the Disciples to work alongside Jesus and birth the Christian Church after he departed this world. Listen now to the story of the Transfiguration as it was written in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, verses two through nine:

Scripture Reading Mark 9:2-9

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 

His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 

And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 

(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God, thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer for Understanding

Holy One, all wisdom comes from you. Guide us now as we hear your scriptures read and interpreted. May your Holy Spirit help us understand your Word more fully and be transformed to live it out. Amen

Movies love to show the moment when people recognize their companion for who they really are – we wait in anticipation for Lois to realize Clark is also Superman. We are thrilled when Peter Parker is revealed to be Spider Man. We nervously await the day studious Diana Prince is revealed to be Wonder Woman. We delight when the people surrounding the hero “see” who they really are.

The Transfiguration of Jesus was the event when a handful of the Disciples finally “saw” who Jesus really was. But, instead of feeling “delight,” they seemed more scared than thrilled. Reality is not as exciting as an action movie….understanding a person in your midst is God incarnate in man can be shocking instead of fun. It is one thing to watch movies or read books about supernatural beings – it is another thing to have one right beside you.

I feel for the disciples. They spent every day with Jesus. They ate with him. They slept in crowded rooms with him. They walked long distances by his side. They listened to his stories. They witnessed his miracles. But, despite their proximity to Jesus, they were still overwhelmed when they recognized who he was. He wasn’t just a regular guy like them. He was the messiah.

At the moment the Peter, James and John saw Jesus transfigured, they also heard God say: “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” Our job is to listen to Jesus. Over the coming year, we will read our way through the Gospel book of Mark. Mark’s stories of Jesus describe him as strong and brave. Jesus stood up to demons. Jesus stood up to religious authorities. Jesus stood up to Roman authorities. He demonstrated bravery in the midst of conflict. Jesus loved people who were dismissed and passed over by the rest of the crowd. Jesus loved outcasts and sinners. Jesus forgave.

In addition to listening to Jesus by working to put his teachings into action, we also need to listen to God. We are called upon to talk to God in prayer. Sometimes when we are praying, we hear a response right away. God answers our questions or tells us to do better.

God also sends us messages in the things that are happening in our lives. We are called upon to look for messages from God in the world around us. God may talk to us through the little quiet voice in our heads that is urging us to do something different. God may talk to us through the words of other people around us. God may send us messages in dreams or signs in nature. God may talk to us when we open the Bible and read a scripture that communicates what we need to hear.

This week, Lent will begin on Wednesday. Each year, Ash Wednesday is day we remind ourselves we were made by God as temporary vessels for our souls…we were made from dust and to dust we will return. We spend the 40 days of Lent considering the past year, repenting for the things we regret and asking God to forgive us. Sometimes, we pledge to make a Lenten sacrifice where we take a fast from a luxury that we typically enjoy for this season. In Ireland, Ash Wednesday is “National No Smoking Day” – Christians are encouraged to use the 40 days of Lent to break their addiction to cigarettes –they have an “ash-less” Ash Wednesday.

Whether we commit to a Lenten Practice or not, let us use these 40 days to be more attentive to listening to God. God chose to come to earth and dwell among us as Jesus. This is wonderful for us, but may have been a tad terrifying for the disciples. We must work to listen to God and live following in the footsteps of our brave Messiah. May it be so. Amen.