"Stories of Grace and Faith"   2014

Psalm 46:1-6, 10-11            Matthew 17:1-9

 

Psalm 46:1-6, 10-11

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

 

Matthew 17:1-9

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. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

 

The elders serving on the session met this weekend for a retreat.

                 It was a good opportunity

                        to think about our church life and where God is leading us.

 

      Each of the elders were asked to tell a story about

           an experience or an event that influenced their walk with God.

We did that because when we reflect on our significant faith stories,

                 and try to interpret the holy places of our lives,

                          it helps us learn to trust, personalize, and appreciate

                                    God’s grace, promises,  abiding presence and purpose.

 

The familiar transfiguration story that we read from Matthew

            helps us understand, personalize and appreciate even more,

                        who Jesus was,

                                    what he came to accomplish, and why that matters to us.

 

    Jesus had just told his disciples that they were on their way

            to Jerusalem where he would suffer, die and be resurrected,

*                                  but the disciples had no idea what all that meant.

 

In this passage,

    Jesus invited three disciples to go with him up a high mountain,

                  where something would happen,

                        that would only make sense to them after the resurrection;

                 when they would finally recognize and realize that it was

                        a sign of fulfillment         of God’s promises and purpose.

vs. 1-3                                     

            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.  Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

 

So why the dazzling face and white clothes?

               Probably as a reflection of God's glory and righteousness,

                        as his divine nature spilled out through his human nature.

 

So why are Moses and Elijah on the mountain talking with Jesus?

           They represent

                        Old Testament righteousness  through obedience to the Law,

                           which Jesus fulfilled, providing for us

                             a gracious righteousness that comes through grace  alone.

 

At the transfiguration,

            in the presence of all that holy, all that brightness of glory,

                        Peter finds himself unexpectedly in the presence of God.

vs. 4          

            Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

 

I read that as  Peter’s frightened & foolish response to the mystery.

            Peter wants to capture and preserve that mystical moment,

                        and so he purposes that they launch a building program…

                                                                                    … he wants to build some shelters…

 

… but before Peter can draw up a set of blueprints,

            or meet with a banker to arrange for a construction loan,

                                    God forcefully interrupts his new building program.

 

It would seem that  since Peter has missed the point,

           mercifully,  God slows him down, redirects and corrects him.

vs. 5                

            While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"

 

          "Listen.  Don't do.   Don't plan.  Don't arrange.  Just listen!"

 

In the Greek, the particular form of the word, “listen”

            is much more than just hear and notice the sound of his voice.

 

First, it means to pay close attention, focus on it and obey.

            Second, it’s not   a one-time instruction and then you’re done,

                        but it is something to continue doing on into the future.

  "This is my Son, my beloved with whom I am well pleased; keep focusing on him!

 

     And perhaps like Peter, we don’t always appreciate or recognize

            God's presence with us, or when the Holy Spirit is inspiring us.

Sometimes we need to be reminded  to stop, wait in silence and listen,

            to focus and pay close attention for our God à

                        who loves us, to speak to us,   to inspire and guide us à

                                    toward the blessings and purpose God intends for us.

 

The message to us,

            in this over-stimulated, overly-hectic and overstretched world

                        is to put on the brakes gently     and slow down our pace

                              so we can be more aware of our relationship with Christ…

              … just as we read in Psalm 46:10,   Be still, and know that I am God!

 

“Be still”, the Hebrew word here is literally, "cease and desist"

            - just stop whatever you are doing, listen and know I am God.

 

Be still and learn ---- that I know you completely for I am your God.

           Be still and discover -- what it means   that I am, your God

                Be still and experience -- have a relationship with your God.

 

* and for us to hear what God's voice is saying,

            may mean setting aside our assumptions concerning God's will,

                        for God often moves in mysterious ways and unexpected ways.

            I am constantly being surprised by how God works in our lives,

                        as when I think there is little hope, God turns it around,

                                    as God blesses and supports us beyond all expectations.

 

* and for us to hear what God's voice is saying,

            may mean setting aside our desire to be in charge and control;

                instead, allow the Holy Spirit of God to blow freely, at will,

for we can stifle the work of God’s Spirit by insisting on our own way,

       and by that restriction, we limit and miss out on God’s blessings.

 

In Africa, a dozen of us traveled in a cramped little mini-van,

            and ten of them were endlessly loud   over-the-top extraverts,

                        who never stopped their incessant talking, all day long.

Usually, such a cacophony of loud conversations all going on at once,

     that there was no way of making sense of what any  one was saying…

                        … and so it was just noise, with no meaning or understanding.

 

And so, whenever we stopped, the other   exhausted introvert and I,

            desperately needed to flee and break away from the group,

                        to enjoy  some time of silence together, not saying a word…

… basking in the quiet allowed  soul and spirit time to heal & restore…

       … time to attend, a time to feed, nurture and care for our nephesh.

 

"Nephesh" is a Hebrew word is generally translated, "spirit or soul".

            Nephesh is the interior essence of the person God created.

It is who we are, it’s the God-given and God-breathed part

            It is our innermost self, our passion and living-truth--

                                       --  nephesh is that which longs and hungers for God.

 

As the created children of God, we need time to attend to our nephesh

            which is the point of the season of Lent,

                        as our opportunity to do some spiritual Spring-cleaning,

                           to commit ourselves to renewal in preparation for Easter;

   a season for careful reflection, of making some space to hear God,                        

      to grow closer & deeper, and to recommit our lives to Jesus Christ.

 

The season of Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday,

            when we will pause for Scripture, reflection and prayer,

                        remembering that we are finite,  but God’s grace is not;

      that we are dust, and to dust we shall surely return,

               but according to God’s love and purpose, that is not the end.

 

Our lives get packed and filled with lots of insignificant stuff,

            and so we are absorbed, distracted and drawn away from God,

                                    and so our inner life,        our nephesh

                                                receives too little care, feeding and attention…

 

  … as we can get  so  sidetracked into soul-destructive busy activity,

                        that we miss the meaning, and full impact and joy

                                    of what God is accomplishing in our lives right now.

 

That was the point

            when God's voice spoke from the cloud covering the mountain.

vs. 6-7

            When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid."

 

            By that touch and kind word, Jesus was offering them grace.

The message and impressive power at the transfiguration

            was not limited to the Holy Presence nor the blazing light,

                        but also the gracious love, the transforming touch of Jesus.

 

That grace is signified at the Lord’s Table by the bread and the wine.

            Here at this sacred meal, Jesus promises to be present with us.

As we come to the Table today, let us pause  to be still and listen,

            and consider our path and progress in this    our one mortal life.

 

This is where the transfiguration story connects with us & our life.

            The truth is, for many of us, our life is not as God intends.

And the difference is, letting God’s grace  bring release and relief

            from the crush of guilt, endless tasks, and driven multitasking

                             so that we can hear afresh God’s saving purpose & call.

 

The late Presbyterian pastor, Donald Barnhouse, told this story:

 

                "Before refrigerators, people used icehouses to preserve their food. Icehouses had thick walls, no windows and a tightly fitted door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer.

 

                A man lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn't find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the icehouse during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch.

 

                Amazed, the men asked him how he found it.

 

                I closed the door,'' the boy replied, "lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.''

 

The question is not whether God is present and speaking,

     but whether we are being still enough and attentive enough to hear. Jesus assures us, God always listens,   but do we really listen to God?

           

                    "Be still, and know that I am God!"

                                    "This is my son, my beloved with whom well pleased, listen to him."