LAST EPIPHANY

February 22, 2009

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

(2^nd Kings 2:1-42; Ps. 50:1-6; II Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9)

St. Christopher’s, 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

Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Pentecost and transfiguration Sunday — all times preachers are not excited to reach! You see the lessons are the same every year on those days rather than on a three year cycle. So there is a strong feeling: “Didn’t I just preach on those lessons!?”

So I decided to start the same way we suggest people start the on-line Bible study, or any Bible study. We encourage people to begin by asking: “What jumped out at me? What seemed new?” Many times I have the distinct impression God added a few words since the last time I read a passage!

This year what jumped out at me was “for they were terrified”. .... Actually that seems a fairly reasonable reaction to a strange circumstance. The man they knew was transfigured – dramatically changed before their very eyes and then two spirits appeared.

Notice why the Old Testament lesson is linked to this one in our readings. Elijah is taken up bodily into heaven – without dying. That’s one of the reasons John the Baptist is connected with Elijah. There was a belief that Elijah would return to announce the coming of the Messiah.

Peter, James and John must have had a multitude of immediate reactions!! I suspect there was at least some desire to run away! Run, far and fast! Another reaction was to do something that showed themselves worthy. That said: “We are here for a reason”. They looked to do something. Anything. To do something for these spirits, and for Jesus. They did not know what to say — they were terrified. .... Wouldn’t you be terrified?

I suspect Peter and James and John later kicked themselves many times. I mean, they had the opportunity to speak with Moses and Elijah. They had the opportunity to speak with the two who represented the Jewish law and the Jewish prophets – but were too terrified to even speak.

Don’t miss that link. We have the messiah speaking with the embodiment of Jewish law and Jewish prophets. Its amazing how often I have heard people argue that Jesus was not actually Jewish. Even if speaking in the synagogues and being called “rabbi” does not destroy that argument, this scene certainly does!

Being terrified was/is a very reasonable reaction to being with two such great people in Jewish history. And as I reflected on that situation I realized that “terrified” may not be an unfair description of how we feel sometimes. Sometimes we know what God wants of us .... but we are too terrified to do it.

OK – maybe “terrified” is a bit strong — but too fearful? Too shy? Too embarrassed? ... We know that God is with is ... Jesus has promised to stay with us. We are told that if we ask, God will place the words in our mouths. We know that and yet? We remember God told us that Jesus is the beloved Son and we should listen to Him ... but it scares us.

We tend to be frightened by what takes us out of our comfort zone. This afternoon people from this congregation will serve meals at the homeless shelter – Open Door Ministries.

That can be an uncomfortable experience. Some of the people being fed have not bathed very often ... and you can tell that. Some of them look a bit rough. Frankly, honestly, if they were walking toward me on the street I would be concerned. Some of them act a bit strange. Are they on drugs? Or are they mentally unbalanced? Many of the people at the dinner are none of these things but some are .... and it is uncomfortable.

Others in our congregation will this week be serving homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network. How do you make conversation with a family that moves from church to church every week? What do you say to a parent without a job trying their best to raise children? Maybe a parent with little education?

All that can be a bit uncomfortable. I remember the first time I drove the van and tried to make conversation with the kids. NOTHING! I finally found one who was a football fan and we talked about sports but he was the only one of the 15 who said a lot. It was uncomfortable. And you know what, it probably was uncomfortable for them. Probably much more uncomfortable for them. After all, how would you feel if every day another person has to feed you? More importantly, and more uncomfortable, every day another person has to feed your children?

As I re-read and re-read this passage I saw something else I had always missed. I had always noticed that Jesus told them to tell no one about this until He was risen from the dead. And I had always noticed how, as we read on, the apostles obviously did not understand this “risen from the dead” stuff. After all, they were utterly confused and disheartened at the crucifixion.

So I began to wonder — in addition to being terrified, was there a part of them, a large part of them who were glad when Jesus told them not to say anything? After all, what would they say? How do you tell this story to your friends, much strangers?

How do we speak about Jesus and life changing to friends? Much less strangers? I bet as Peter, James and John thought about it they were glad to be told not to speak about this!

And I hear the same thing today. Truth? I think essentially the same thing today!! If I try to tell people I fear they won’t understand. Plus, the disciples would have been pushing the boundaries of their society’s religious beliefs. And if we speak up we are pushing the boundaries of our belief that “religion is private”

Peter and James and John may have been concerned they would come across as similar to those pushy Pharisees. And we fear we will come across as similar to those pushy religious nuts who drive us crazy.

But ultimately I wonder if the real reason Peter, James and John may not have hesitated is that they did not understand. After all, if they had spoken about this how would they answer the questions? “How did that all happen? Are you sure? Maybe you were just faked out! Why would God do it that way?”

And I know that part of our real reason is that we fear being asked a question we cannot answer. Can’t you imagine mentioning church to someone and being asked: “How can you believe that stuff about raising people from the dead? After all, it was written by a bunch of people just making up impressive stories!”

Or maybe something even deeper: “Why would a loving God send His beloved Son to be nailed to a cross? I cannot be part of something so irrational!”

Or maybe something more personal: “I used to go to church but then my mother died of his horrible disease without God helping. God left her alone so I will just leave God alone!”

Peter, James and John would have been asked difficult questions they could not answer. And we are afraid we will be too. So, its better to just not say anything. Didn’t your parents tell you to never talk about religion and politics!

Our parents told us not to talk about religion or politics but God tells us to speak about Jesus. So ..... what do we do?

First, we never hear a lot about James and John but we do hear Peter’s famous sermon on Pentecost. In it Peter makes no attempt to really explain a lot of this. Only to announce or proclaim it.

Don’t mis-understand. If you know me at all you know I struggle for intellectual understanding! I get frustrated when I don’t really understand something.

But understanding ultimately is not our job. We are to tell people what we know, and admit what we don’t – yet – fully understand.

But they first step in that is to “know”. Some of that is intellectual. We can answer some of those questions about the Bible’s authors for example. And we can reflect on why Jesus had to die — even if we find some answers unsatisfying.

But more importantly we need to remember that our relationship with God is just that — a relationship and not some school test of facts. It is about knowing we are loved not about knowing the reasons. It is about loving — not explaining.

There are some things we can do to help with that relationship building. Certainly reading the Bible, studying with other people, asking the perplexing questions, talking to God, listening to God (the most difficult part for most of us!) all are important.

But watching for God helps to. I love the phrase in Eucharistic Prayer C — “open our eyes to see Your work in the world around us” That’s why prayers of thanksgiving are so important. Not because God needs to be thanked ... although it is the polite thing to do! .... but so we are reminded of what God has done.

When that uncomfortable situation comes out better than we expected. When we have the resources to help at the Open Door or Interfaith. When we don’t see a cure but we do experience a healing. All of those are important .. they help us remember and learn.

And just like Peter, the fisherman who kept putting his foot in his mouth, became one of the most powerful preachers ever ... we will gain comfort. We always need to be expanding our comfort zone, going and doing what is uncomfortable, but we will look back and see that the people at Open Door are no longer scary or the IHN families no longer difficult to speak with .... or, surprise surprise ... that co-worker or neighbor really does want to be invited to church!

I think our opening collect or prayer is a bit extreme when it asks that we be changed into Jesus’ likeness. But may God guide us to move in that direction!

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)