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Sunday February 28,
1999
Matthew 17:1-7
Paradise Lost and FoundFocus Text: "Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white." [Matthew 17:1-2]
Have you ever been homesick?
My "homesick" story is almost embarrassing. I left college to join the Air Force after my recruiter painted a wonderful word picture of life in the Air Force. I would travel to the four corners of the world traveling in jet airplanes and see all the sights. Boot camp in the Air Force would be a cinch and I would have the time of my life. It was all too good to be true! (Did I tell you I was a naive young lad?)
The very first night in Boot Camp was not a cinch at all. After a long day of verbal abuse and endless lines, seventy four of us lay in this huge warehouse type building in our bunkbeds wondering what in the world we had gotten ourselves into. Soon, I heard a sniffle. Then another. A couple of unkind remarks were fired off into the air by the first of our squadron wiseguys. "You've got to be kidding," I thought to myself, "Some of these guys are really homesick." But, I too lay there wondering what I had done to my life. And how I wished I was back at home where I could go to sleep in my own bed and get up the next morning to do whatever I chose! And this big knot grew in my throat.
What is your homesick story? It can be a terrible feeling, can't it?.
Our Lenten Journey
Our Lenten journey is all about the soul's homesickness. "Paradise: Lost and Found." How do we find that "place" with God represented in the Garden story of the Man and Woman who had an intimacy with God that was the center of their lives.
Peace. Harmony. Fulfillment.
All standard fare in Paradise. All so elusive for folks like you and me trying to make our way through this sometimes bewildering world. And talk about homesick! Think about the man and woman in last week's scripture story -- can you imagine the first days in that post-paradise world?
What do you think of when you think of home? If you had the good fortune of a healthy and nourishing home life as a child, then home will forever be the sights and sounds, smells and sensations of your childhood. It is something you will want to provide for your children and grandchildren. Home is safety and security; warmth and joy -- heaven on earth -- if you were one of the lucky ones.
Having had the opportunity to be with older persons in their last days and hours, I've been impressed with how frequently we return home in our hearts during our final days. My grandmother spoke only in Gaelic in the days before her death. She was back home in County Cork, Ireland running barefoot once again through the Glen of Aerlo.
There is a spiritual counterpart to this homesickness. Our souls are homesick -- as it were -- for God and we are never fully at home until we are "connected" with our divine source.
Many (and maybe even most) people don't have a clue. Their "homesickness" is experienced as restless searching for fulfillment. In our very material culture it is the struggle for "more". There is never quite enough fame for those who would be famous, or money for those who would be rich, or power for those who would control the world.
Like it or not, we are all on a journey. The object of this journey, (as St. Augustine suggested) is to find our spiritual home in Christ. Some are conscious of this inner journey. They reach out for spiritual guidance and make use of tools which are available to direct the journey. Some are not conscious of the journey. They are like aimless wanderers who drift about looking for somewhere to go, but see no destination.
I saw a cartoon some time ago which showed what appeared to be a "fortyish" couple in the midst of an argument. The exasperated wife, throwing up her hands asks, "Harry -- just what is it you want?" This stops Harry right in his tracks and he responds, "I want my mommy!" Harry is restless and homesick inside and he's not sure what it's all about. Harry doesn't know it, but he needs to make a long journey home.
And It is a long journey -- indeed a lifelong journey to our spiritual home in Christ. As we explore that journey through the coming weeks, we will explore some of the clues that can help us along the way.
Tools for the Journey ~ Abraham
Our readings from Genesis and Romans point to the original " journeyer" -- Abraham. Abraham's story is the wonderful odyssey of God's attempt to claim a people and lead them to a homeland. As a matter of fact the whole of the bible is the story of God's calling out, "Time to come home!"
Deep within my psyche are the voices of my mom and dad calling out that it's time to come home. With mom, you could dally around a bit, but when dad let out with that, "Johnny! It's time to come home," -- immediate action was the better part of wisdom.
The words of our scripture are stunning really, "...the Lord said to Abraham, 'Go'.... and Abraham went...!" God calls and Abraham answers. Here are the tools we need -- direction (which God gives) and -- action (which we supply.) Abraham followed God's direction because he trusted God's promise. Another way to say this is that the tools for the journey are a sure word and a certain obedience. You have to be sure it is God's voice you are hearing and when you hear it, you need to be willing to respond. Look once again at the words Matthew tells us the disciples heard on the mountain, "This is my Son, the Beloved... listen to him!" [Mt. 17:5]
Abraham's journey was a journey to a homeland for a people God would create through Abraham. In a sense, it was an attempt to get back to Paradise. The "Promised Land" would be the Paradise which was once lost. The first five books of the bible detail a long and winding road that led to that "land of milk and honey" -- paradise. This promised land was an actual piece of real estate -- a physical homeland. The journey was filled with trial and temptation, but they reached that homeland at last.
Yet, the physical homeland was only a reflection of a spiritual homeland. As with the Genesis Paradise, so also the physical homeland -- or the land of Israel -- was lost because the people stopped listening to the voice of God.
The Foundation of the Journey ~ Paul
In the epistle reading for today, Paul spells out what the foundation of the journey is. Abraham's relationship to God was based, not on the things Abraham did, but on the trust he placed in God. It is faith which will finally see us home.
This means the long journey home to God is not based on our history or heritage, our piety or position or our religious resume. It is based on faith. Anyone -- is welcome to become a part of the journey to our soul's spiritual home.
You've heard the saying, "Home is where the heart is." Actually, in terms of our topic it should really be, "Home is where the Lord is."
One of the biggest misconceptions I've ever heard about getting close to God -- (that is making gains on the spiritual journey) -- goes something along the line of, "I can't do enough to make my life right." or -- "I've messed up so badly, I just don't feel worthy of God's love." This feeling is strongly rooted in the human psyche for many people. It is as though they are the man and woman who were evicted from the Genesis garden because of their transgressions. They feel as they can not go back without undoing the wrong they did -- or at least doing something to make up for the wrong they did.
Paul enters with the foundation for the spiritual journey. Even Abraham, father of many nations and Patriarch of Israel, was not right with God because of what he did. He was at home with God because he had faith in God. Then he acted on that faith.
Do you see? Faith is the foundation of the journey home to God. Remember the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke? What did the young man have to do to get back to his father? Pay back all the money he wasted? Live an exemplary life for a few years before being accepted back? No -- none of these! He needed to trust his father's love and act on that trust by heading home.
The Destination of the Journey ~ Matthew
The gospel reading from Matthew gives a glimpse of the journey's destination. It is as though a curtain is pulled back on spirituality reality and they see Jesus as he really is. This is the original "mountain top experience." Here Moses, Elijah, Jesus and the Lord God are all in communion. It blows the three disciples away. Peter, who is always first to put his sandal in his mouth, is ready to build three dwellings (or actually tents) to honor Jesus and the great Moses and Elijah.
Peter doesn't get the fact that they are seeing Jesus as he really is. The voice of God identifies Jesus as the Messianic Son of God. They are overcome with awe and fall to the ground in fear. They are seeing Jesus with clear spiritual sight and God is present with an affirmation of Jesus' identity.
The main point here is fulfillment of the journey. There is a restoration of complete communion between God and persons. Here are Moses, Elijah, Jesus and three disciples all together in the presence of God. This is the destination! Here is a renewal of the Genesis Garden before the trouble came. A broken and hurting world is left behind -- down below -- and they have now arrived at the mountain top.
At least for the moment!
What's that old saying? "What goes up must....?" (Come down) The disciples can not stay on the mountain top. Matthew brings us back to reality. "As they were coming down the mountain..." Jesus, Peter, James, John and you and I have to live in our day to day, sometimes great and sometimes not so great world. It is wonderful to know that the mountain top is there... to know that there is a place of perfect harmony and full communion with the Lord. It is the knowledge of the mountain top than can give us courage to get through the valleys. And valleys?? Well -- don't we all know that valleys will certainly come along.
In the meantime... take courage for the long journey home. From Abraham, remember to listen for the voice of God and be prepared to act when you get a sense of God speaking to you. God does not talk into tape recorders! You can't "listen to it later" or at a "more convenient time". When God speaks, you need to act. From Paul take courage knowing that the spiritual journey is available to anyone who is willing to trust the Lord.
From Peter and his friends on the mountain top, cement firmly in your soul the reality of the journey's destination. You can find that place of complete communion with the One who made you. As Peter, James and John found an amazing fulfillment of their life's journey on this mountain top -- so may God give you a deep inner sense of the certain destination you have in Christ!
A student in my Greek - Matthew seminar asked the professor (Rodney Branton), "What do you take the transfiguration story to mean?" Professor Branton replied, "What would you like it to mean?"
He rightly pointed to the fact that this passage is among the more difficult passages in the gospels in terms of historical and theological questions. If the story is completely allegorized, it can mean whatever the interpreter wants. One teacher in a religious fringe group used it to show that we can communicate with persons who have died (like Moses and Elijah) through seances. Others like Bultmann (Synoptic Tradition) have sought to find a source for this story other than the setting suggested in the synoptic gospels. Bultmann suggests that this is actually a misplaced resurrection story. Some suggestions of the meaning of this account carry the symbolism and allegory way beyond what is characteristic of Matthew.
All three synoptic gospels report the story (Mark 9:2-8 and Luke 9:28-36). Even though Luke has minor differences with Matthew and Mark. Luke is the only one to say Jesus took Peter James and John up on a mountain to pray. Mark and Matthew each have unique minor details concerning the event on the mountain.
Significantly, all three synoptics place the story after Jesus' strong call to discipleship and all close with Jesus words, "Truly, I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death [...before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom" - MT], [...until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power" - MK], [...before they see the kingdom of God" - LK] Just previous to this was Peter's identification of Jesus as the Christ. [Mt. 16:13-16]
We see the Confession of Caesarea-Philippi, the call to discipleship and now the Transfiguration as a natural progression and turning point after which the self-disclosure of Jesus as Christ is more and more evident. The account fits the old hymn... "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!" The glory of the mountain top is nourishment for the remainder of the journey which will become increasingly difficult. The cross carried will become heavier as the weeks move on. Luke in fact has Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus about the things that will happened in Jerusalem. [Lk. 9:30-31]
v. 1 "Peter, James and John..." The question is frequently raised as to why Jesus chose these three to become a sort of "inner circle". They accompany Jesus into the bedroom of Jarius' daughter and into the depths of the Garden of Gesthemane. Peter is understandable in light of his primary role in the infant church. The others are among Jesus' first disciples. The reasons will never be fully known, but the reality is that even Jesus chose a very limited few to enter the core of his personal / human self. Jesus called the twelve "friends" -- then there are those who go beyond friendship and become partners in our soul's journey.
v. 2 "Transfigured" from "ìåôáìïñöüù - or - metamorphoô " Implies a complete transformation - as in Rom. 12:2 "Be not conformed to this world, but transformed" Paul uses the same word which is translated "transfigured" in Mt. 17:2. See alternate sermon idea on this text below -- "Transformation Inc."
v. 3 "Moses and Elijah..." There are several homiletical possibilities to explore in the joining of Jesus, Moses and Elijah in the transfiguration. Jesus' three "inner core" disciples are a party to a vision of the fulfillment of the plan and purposes of God. Jesus is the New Moses who leads the people out of bondage. The reading from Romans emphasizes the fact that Abraham's true descendents are of every nation. Elijah is the one who points to Messiah -- the forerunner. Using the synoptic parallels, Luke has the three discussing Jesus' "departure" which will take place shortly in Jerusalem. The heart of this pericope is "fulfillment" of the whole intent of the biblical drama. The three "heavenly" beings and the three "earthly" beings speak of an amazing conjunction of the human and the divine on this mountain top. This speaks to the difficulties many see in this passage. One might conclude, "Of course this experience for Jesus' inner three is necessary -- in light of what would take place over the next days and weeks. It is this vision that will carry them through the tough times. You might use this theme for a sermon on, "Keep On keeping On!"
v. 6 Peter, James and John are suddenly confronted with the presence of God and see Christ in all of his glory. It is more than enough to send them to the ground on their faces in fear and trembling. The experience calls to mind Rudolph Otto's, "The Idea of the Holy" This is undiluted worship of the soul in the presence of a Holy God! A friend once said to me, "If you haven't trembled in your boots before God, you may have missed out on the fullness of worship."
v. 9 "Tell no one..." The "Messianic Secret". Some commentators have suggested that the "Messianic Secret" is due to the fact that Jesus never claimed to be Messiah. We disagree. John 6:14 speaks of the intent of the people to make Jesus "King by force". Additionally, the idea of Messianic appearance is not understood even by the followers of Jesus. In the post-resurrection account of Jesus speaking with his disciples [Acts 1] -- the disciples are still asking if Jesus will restore the kingdom. i.e. Israel's dominance. The clue to the issue is in Jesus enjoining the three not to tell of this vision until he has been raised from the dead. Can this be ex-eventu? Of course -- but to suggest the weaving of such an elaborate reconstruction by the earliest redactors of the synoptic tradition defies the imagination of anyone who has ever served on a church or denominational committee!
Transformation Inc. ~ Matthew 17:1-9
You might take a different approach on the Matthew account of transfiguration by focusing on the issue of transformation.
The Lenten task is self-examination and turning our hearts to God. As we seek to become everything God made us to be, we become aware that we are in need of transformation. Use Romans 12:1-2 along with Matthew's text to show how transformation is a whole person thing. Matthew speaks of Jesus' outward appearance, but the "be ye transformed" of Romans 12:2 is the same word as "transfigured."
In fact, it may be likely that the outward appearance of Jesus on the mountain top is driven by the inner reality of who he is. As they see the reality of who Jesus is -- they perceive his outward appearance as absolutely awesome and fearful.
Explore the meaning of "transformation". The whole point of our Christian experience is transformation: (See note above on verse two) Transformation is not simply the outward appearance of what the disciples saw on the mountain top. It is a complete change or "metamorphosis" of the inner and outer person.
I. II Cor. 5:17 In Christ we are new persons.
The old is gone and the new has come
II. Rom. 12:1-2 We are to be transformed by the
renewing of our minds.
We need a new "inner program" The words of
Christ.
III. Rev. 21:1 ff The whole aim of creation is transformation
I have a children's book which I read frequently to my four year old daughter. A part of that book shows how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. To the caterpillar she says, "Yuky!" But the butterfly is "Beautiful!"
There are examples throughout the biblical drama of how God transforms: The desert into a place of life -- Dry bones into living beings -- Blindness into sight -- Death into life.
Let's use these Lenten days to open ourselves up more fully to the power of God to transform our lives.
A Call To Worship (Based on Psalm 121)
L: Let us declare O People of
God the source of our help and hope.
P: Our help comes from the Lord who made the heavens
and the earth.
L: The Lord is present with us at all times,
P: We are never left alone.
L: God's help is at hand every waking moment of our
lives,
P: We place our hope in the Lord from this time on
and forevermore! Amen!
Prayer of Dedication
It is so very clear Lord, that you have blessed
your people abundantly
from the beginning of time until now. We long to see your love and grace
fill our world. We dedicate the gifts we bring today to the building of
the kingdom of your love and grace, in the hearts of all people. Amen.
A Benediction
Go from this place with the hope and the help of
the Lord in your hearts.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on
and forevermore! Amen!