EPIPHANY Last

                       February 14, 2010

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

(Exodus 34:29-35; Ps. 99; 2nd Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-43a)

HEY ! WHERE DID JESUS GO ?

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

    I want you to notice a few things about the Gospel .... First notice that it is called the “transfiguration” and not the “transformation” ... notice that Jesus did not change. What changed was how the disciples, and we, see Jesus. What we think about Jesus.

    Notice also the interaction between Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah represent the heart of Jewish life. Moses was the law giver and Elijah the prophet so being together we are told that Jesus is standing with the Old Testament law and prophets.

    That said, notice God makes it very clear who is the superior of the three. Jesus does not replace the law and the prophets. But when we seek to understand the law and prophets we can look to Jesus for clarity.

     Notice too how Luke makes a point of immediately showing the disciples’ inability to heal. Despite the fact they had seen Jesus in all His glory. Despite the fact they now should understand all that Jesus is. Despite the fact Jesus told them they had the ability — they could not do it. They could not believe at a deep enough level to do that ministry.

    OK – that was good Bible study, but what does it mean for us? What does this lesson say to us? How does, or should this lesson affect our lives?

    I hope everyone in this room has been with Jesus for a transfiguration. And I hope it has happened more than once! One of our retired bishops used to pray: “may you be born again! And again! And again!” His point is that we need to witness a transfiguration of Jesus, and ourselves transformed ... but it seldom “sticks” ! For most of us the knowledge and feeling is strong for a while, then we wander away.

    BUT – we are in good company! Peter witnessed the transfiguration. Peter was transformed to where he later could do miracles. And then Peter denied Jesus three times. .... Of course every time I mention that I like to remind us that, yes, Peter denied Jesus but the rest of them had run away completely!!

    So if we witness a transfiguration and are transformed but later need to be reminded — that’s pretty normal.

    Let me explain what I mean by witnessing a transfiguration. Most of us have Jesus in our heads. We know about Jesus. We might even feel we know Jesus. But for most of us, most of the time, and remember I said we go in cycles ... we know Jesus as we know our friend. We know his name, where he works, maybe what he enjoys doing ... but we might go days or even weeks without seeing him. Furthermore, we know our friend but we do not love our friend.

    When we love someone there is the knowledge but there is a much deeper connection. Think about a friend of yours, and then think about someone you love. What is the difference in those relationships? 

    In Jesus’ case the transfiguration we witness is even deeper. Not only is it a time we fall in love with Him, it is a time when we acknowledge Him as lord — our leader — our boss — our God.

    Consider the disciples. Up to this point they knew Jesus as a great teacher, a prophet, even a miracle worker. Now they had to acknowledge Jesus at a very different level. Jesus went from being a good friend and a great person, to being God. In their eyes He was not transfigured but transformed. But, Jesus did not change, just their perception of Jesus changed. Their perception was transformed.

    When we see the transfiguration in the sense of understanding Jesus at a deeper level, and loving Him at a deeper level ... when that happens we are transformed. We are changed.

    I am fascinated about how I, and most people, can be transformed in that way and then drift back closer to our old lives. How we can be so mightily transformed, and at some point later look around and wonder “Hey, where did Jesus go?” ... At that point we still have the knowledge about Jesus. Still have the memories of our connections. But we are not connected.

    Maybe in a small way its like having a best friend you did everything with and then for some reason you drift apart. Nothing happened. Nothing went wrong. It was just you were too busy to do something with the friend. Then too busy to do something else. Then before you know it, it has been a long time since you did anything together.

    I suspect more often than not when we drift away from God it is because we are too busy. We have too much going on in our lives to spend time with God. There are work obligations, family obligations, things we like to do ... sometimes there is just the need to take a nap! Our calendar is full and God is not on it.

    When that happens we need to recognize that what really happened is we changed our priorities. From the days when God was a top priority to now God is a fill-in. Somebody we call if we are bored and have nothing else to do — which does not happen often!

    What really happened is that God – Jesus was de-transfigured ... just made that word up! ... maybe it should be un-transfigured ... I will let the English majors in the congregation debate which would be correct. Jesus went from being our leader – our God, possibly went through a phrase of being a friend ... to being simply an acquaintance.

    I am reminded of the question in our baptism service, our confirmation service, our wedding service, and our ordination service ... with minor wording changes they each ask “when we fall into sin will we repent – turn around – be transformed again and return to our Lord?”

    The question is not whether the de-transfiguration has happened, or even that the transfiguration has never happened for us, the question is ‘What are we going to do now?’ ‘How will we repent, turn around, and return to Jesus?’

    As I ask that question I am very aware ... extremely aware of how our lives can come crushing down on us. How we can feel like we have no flexibility – that other people – our boss, our family are setting our priorities so do not ask me to change them! ... Believe me!! I know how that feels.

    So with that understanding, How can we repent, turn around, and return to our Lord?

    First, and I believe most important as I have told you before, is doing this within community. Seeking to return to Jesus, be closer to God, within a community. Many people claim that do not need to be within a church or other religious community. That they can do it alone. No one I know has ever demonstrated that successfully! Instead it becomes their goal or plan, but not how they live their life.

    Being in community can both help us be accountable to ourselves, and also help us with information and inspiration. Knowing that other person is doing something makes it easier for me to do something. It is the same reason most people do better at a gym than with the workout equipment at home! When we are alone it is much too easy to decide we will do it later ... and then never do it! Once we reach the gym, or the church, then the community helps us.

    However even within community we can, and fact we will have dry times. Times when we feel as if Jesus is at best an acquaintance and not even a friend much less our God. Times when we feel disconnected as if our prayers bounce off the ceiling and never get to God. ... I know that feeling! ... My faith says God is here so the prayers do not have to go higher than the ceiling, but there are times I feel as if they get no where to no one!

    Again, being in community and following a discipline, a pattern in our lives is the key. Knowing that other people in the room are in a better place right now can help me remember when I was in a better place and anticipate when I will again be in a better place.

    So one important part of turning around and re-joining Jesus is to be in a community. Within that community we need to discover what patterns work for us. Maybe its making sure we take 5 minutes every day to pray. Maybe it is making sure we read the Bible at least 30 minutes per week and have people to discuss it with. Maybe it is doing something to make this world ... God’s world a better place.

    Actually it needs to be all of those: worship, prayer, study, and action. The balance in your life may be somewhat different than the balance in mine but if any are missing than we are out of balance. We are on shaky ground. We will fail.

    It begins with the transfiguration, seeing Jesus in a new and deeper way. It begins by seeing Jesus as a friend .. but much, much more. And then we may be transformed — changed in a way that brings us closer to Jesus. The transfiguration helps us see the goal, the transformation takes us toward the goal.

    Actually the beginning is us wanting to witness Jesus’ transfiguration ... wanting to see Jesus in a new light. Us wanting to be transformed and being willing to be part of a community which can help us witness the transfiguration and help us be transformed. If we want we will receive. May we always want.

               AMEN

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CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation. (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to: ken@st-christopher.com)