February 18, 2007 Sermon
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Last Epiphany – C
February 18, 2007 Emmanuel, San Angelo
Today we come to the end of the season of Epiphany. And as we do every year we close the season with the Transfiguration of Jesus. Epiphany always goes out with a bang, in contrast to Lent, with its solemnity. We are constantly invited to see how God still works miracles in us today, and transforms in us in unexpected ways.
It is the task of the modern Christian to learn how to read the Bible with an open and discerning heart; to look beneath the level of a narrow, surface literalism for their deeper meaning. Questions like, How did Jesus do that? And, did he really mysteriously start to glow? And did he literally talk with Moses and Elijah?—are beside the point. Like the best of mystery writers, Luke gives us clues throughout his Gospel of a deeper meaning which he intends for readers to discover. Let’s look at these clues…
The first clue is the phrase “About eight days after…” It is doubtful that this is a factual reference; instead it is Luke’s way of signaling that what comes next will be the start of a new week, a new order, a new creation. God created the world in 7 days. Now here, on the 8th day, something even more amazing and wonderful is about to happen. Next, Jesus takes with him Peter and John and James, his trusted friends, to get away and pray. Suddenly for them everything begins to change. Who knows what happened? Did a cloud literally engulf them, or OR, in a moment of prayer and insight did the fog finally lift, and they recognized that, like Moses (the OT reading) they were in the presence of a holy man? Here is another clue: While in this “close encounter” Jesus talks of his departure. The Greek word here is “exodus.” For Luke, Jesus is the new liberator, the new law-giver, who will lead his people out of bondage—who will set the captives free, restore sight to the blind, heal the broken hearted, and free those in the dungeons of despair.
The last clue is that after this, Jesus led them down; back down to the plain where ministry happens. He told them to be quiet. Perhaps, rather than bragging to the world how great a Christian they were, or how they had now “accepted Jesus as their our personal savior”…maybe they would be better off just serving; just living their faith; being partners in his work of reconciliation.
This week, these readings seem to take on a certain significance for us as Episcopalians. You might have heard or read that the worldwide Anglican leaders (primates) have been meeting in conference in Tanzania, Africa. The issues they are discussing are the same issues we have been wrangling about for the last several years. But this time on Friday a group of seven African bishops refused to take Holy Communion with our new woman Presiding Bishop. In a press release, the 7 bishops wrote,
“We are unable to come to the Holy Table with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church because to do so would be a violation of Scriptural teaching and the traditional [understanding of the Anglican church].
I admit that I don’t have all the answers, but somehow words ring hollow when in the name of God and the Church, Christians demean other people, and exclude them. And, when Christians refuse to take Communion with one other…where can we be then?
The story of the Transfiguration invites us to consider not just how Christ changed, but how the disciples themselves were transformed in his presence. God constantly draws us; constantly calls us to a life of change and spiritual growth. But as Paul cautions, it is all for naught if we do not have love for one another.
“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
Dear Friends in Christ, on this day we are challenged, not just to read about the Transfiguration, but to live it…to allow the spirit of Jesus Christ to live in us and become a part of us. Does this involve change? Yes. Does it mean a re-examination of the way we do things, and our priorities? Yes, but in the end I believe that it is worth it.
After today we say goodbye to Epiphanytide for another year. Tuesday is Mardi gras…Wednesday we get ashes, and Lent is here. It can mean nothing, OR it can be the beginning of a change of heart. Pray God to open us, to open this church, and help us to love all of God’s creation. Then, “beholding the light of his countenance… be strengthened to bear our cross and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
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Revised: 03/12/07