Sermon Ordinary 18, 6th August 2023

MAY the words of my mouth and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>

I hope those of you who have been here over the previous weeks have noticed that the whole “following Jesus thing” takes us to some pretty strange, exciting and challenging places. We’ve been reminded of Jesus’ words to “Turn the other cheek” rather than fight back. Then there’s the fact that Jesus is always welcoming those on the margins, the odd-ones-out, those that push our boundaries of comfort and custom. Not to mention the rather unsettling core of our faith - that God came to us as a human being and died on a cross to save us from ourselves.

Yup - the whole “Jesus thing” is a bit strange when you think about it.

Now, today, along with congregations all around the world, we celebrate the “Transfiguration of our Lord”. Now “transfiguration” is not a word one uses much in everyday conversation. In fact, it’s one of those words that doesn’t get much use at all, outside of church that is. It’s rather like the word, “prodigal” from the “story of the prodigal son.” “Prodigal” means, “one who spends resources freely or over-extravagantly.” But we seem to never use “prodigal” outside of the Bible. Even when Kim and I have a money conversation, we never seem to talk about “prodigal” spending … no, not even if she comes home with another pair of shoes!

Transfiguration is another strange ‘churchy’ word that I dare you to use in regular conversation. I had to look it up. ‘Transfiguration’ is akin to ‘transformation’ but ‘transfiguration’ focuses on appearance. So when Jesus appeared in dazzling white in our story today, we say he was “transfigured” - dramatically changed in appearance.

‘Transfiguration’ can also signal a change that glorifies or exalts somebody - which fits the narrative as well.

So, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray and when they arrived it was Jesus’ clothes that shone in a dazzling white. Then, we read that Moses and Elijah appeared and started talking to Jesus.

Now Peter and his companions were pretty tired, the writer says, but Peter, struck by the amazing happenings around him asked Jesus if he could make some tents for Moses, Elijah and Jesus, hoping that they might “hang around for a bit”. Then, practically as soon as Peter spoke these words, Moses and Elijah were eclipsed by a cloud and disappeared. And a voice boomed through the cloud, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

The disciples are often cast as not the brightest of guys, but even Peter, James, and John could work this transfiguration out. God was identifying Jesus with the glory of Moses and Elijah, but also upping the ante. Jesus was God’s very son. So they should listen while they could, for God’s shining moments sometimes pass away quickly. Just as Moses and Elijah departed, so too would Jesus. They didn’t know it yet, but his departure would be on a cross, and it would mark a beginning as much as an end.

It’s easy to be hard on Peter here, but let’s not blame him. Peter was trying to be helpful, trying to preserve the perfect moment when Jesus was shining in radiance on the mountaintop with Moses and Elijah. Peter had forgotten his digital camera that day, so he tried to mark the moment by building tents for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus to stay.

But, Peter’s attempt to enshrine his mountaintop experience wasn’t what Jesus had in mind.

Faithfulness is not achieved by freezing a moment but by following on in confidence that God is leading and that what lies ahead is even greater than what we have already experienced.

Peter tries to stop time, to mark the moment, but he couldn’t pull it off. Neither can we. The phrase, “time flies” is one of culture’s most ancient. Any parent will tell you that no matter how hard you try, you can’t stop a child from growing up.

We can’t stop time. We can’t enshrine the moment. Rather than looking at this as a problem, let’s welcome the challenge.

I said the word, “transfiguration” is pretty close to “transformation.” They both mean a type of change. Like it or not life is transformed every minute of every day. But “transfiguration” points to a change in appearance as well.

A change in how we see, AND in how WE are seen.

So how do you see the world? How has the world been transfigured as a result of Jesus Christ? In small ways or large, how do YOU reflect the dazzling appearance of the glory that Christ gives you?

Today is “Transfiguration of our Lord Sunday”, a weird phrase for a strange narrative? As I said, this “following Jesus thing” is never dull, rather it’s always exciting.

But … maybe it’s the right word\phrase after all.

Maybe it’s helpful to be reminded that though WE can grow weary, though WE grow dim, YET the one whose shining glory we reflect is still calling us to spread the word that Jesus is God’s son; that WE ARE a transfigured people because of this great good news.

As we glimpse God’s glory in the Bible narratives, as we catch a view of the movement of the Spirit among us here today, may we reflect God’s glory too.

Reflect the radiance of Christ in your life and to God will be the glory.