1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 I speak in the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,000 Amen. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,280 I think we see them. 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:18,960 So today is the final Sunday in the season of Epiphany, and as we do every year on the 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:24,800 last Sunday in the season of Epiphany, we hear the story of Jesus' transfiguration on 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:26,640 the mountain. 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:33,800 This Wednesday we will begin our journey into Lent, which is a somber and sobering season 8 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,920 where we get the chance to walk just a little bit closer with the parts of life that we 9 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:46,800 often pretend don't exist, or at least until we have to acknowledge things like suffering 10 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:52,760 or illness, disappointment, shame, and death. 11 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:59,760 On Ash Wednesday we will hear the promise that we are made from dust, and to dust, we 12 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:07,240 and all of this and everything that we accumulate in our lives will return. 13 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:13,360 In Lent we have a time to reflect on the spaces that we need to do and about face, on the 14 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:19,240 times and the places, the things that we need to do to get more close to God, to get closer 15 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:24,600 to where we are being called by God to walk, to give up the things that are separating 16 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:30,560 us from God, and to take on the things that will bring us closer. 17 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:36,840 Lent is a time for us to reflect on just how much God loves us, just how far God is willing 18 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:43,840 to go to come and find us, and then we have the chance to learn how to pattern our life 19 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:48,520 with the knowledge of just how good we are. 20 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:54,960 But today we have one last Sunday to reflect on the season of Epiphany, to reflect on how 21 00:01:54,960 --> 00:02:00,800 God is being revealed in the world and in your own lives. 22 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,680 We are in year B in our lectionary cycle, which means we get to focus mostly on the 23 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:11,640 gospel of Mark, and so it is Mark's version of the transfiguration that we hear today. 24 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:17,600 In this scripture passage we have Jesus ascending the mountain with three of his closest friends 25 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:18,600 and disciples. 26 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:28,680 Incidentally, these are three of the first four followers of Jesus, James and Peter. 27 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:34,680 Suddenly those disciples are swept up into this strange and awesome moment. 28 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:40,680 Jesus' clothes become dazzling white, and standing with him are two of the greatest 29 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:45,000 prophets of Israel, Moses and Elijah. 30 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:54,400 Peter, in such a human moment, has no idea what to say, and offers to build three dwelling 31 00:02:54,400 --> 00:03:01,680 places for Jesus, Moses, and it is such a wonderful moment with Peter, not knowing at 32 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:08,200 all how to enter into this grace-filled God moment happening in front of him. 33 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,520 It is all the more embarrassing, I think, for him to have his offer completely ignored 34 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:20,680 and overshadowed by God's booming voice, proclaiming that this is Jesus, the beloved Son of God, 35 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:28,520 who we are supposed to listen to, whose message of repentance and love can change our lives. 36 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,160 And just as suddenly as the moment arrived, it is now ended. 37 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,400 The odd disciples are left alone with Jesus on the mountain. 38 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:41,720 All is exactly as it was, or so they think. 39 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,640 All is exactly as it was, but nothing will ever be the same after such a close encounter 40 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,040 with God. 41 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:53,360 Our story ends with their descent from the mountain and Jesus' stern instructions to 42 00:03:53,360 --> 00:04:00,520 tell no one what they have seen or experienced in the resurrection. 43 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,560 Recently I did a day-long Godly Play training here at the church put together by our wonderful 44 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,560 children's director, Amanda Austin. 45 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,840 Godly Play is the program that our youth, that our children have to do every Sunday 46 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,520 mornings during the Christian education hour. 47 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:19,560 And in Godly Play, they hear the story of the day and they are invited to engage with 48 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,400 it with one question. 49 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:30,280 These are just questions for them to see where the story is speaking to them in that moment. 50 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:31,280 Where are they in this story? 51 00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:32,820 Where do they hear Jesus? 52 00:04:32,820 --> 00:04:35,440 What parts of it are they getting caught up in? 53 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:40,040 And the point of these wondering questions isn't to find answers. 54 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:45,720 The point for the wondering questions is just to wonder a little more fully about where 55 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:52,800 God is in their own lives and where they see themselves in this story. 56 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,840 It's a great technique for children, but I couldn't help but thinking the whole time 57 00:04:55,840 --> 00:04:59,960 I was at this training that this would be a great technique for adults as well. 58 00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:05,480 It's a really powerful way to engage with scripture to ask these wondering questions 59 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:11,960 to let ourselves wander through the story and not try to come away with clean and tidy 60 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,160 answers. 61 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:19,640 So this week as I read through our scripture reading, I let myself begin to wonder. 62 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:24,640 And I wonder what it must have been like in this first disciples to see that story standing 63 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:30,680 on top with Jesus, seeing Moses and Elijah with their teacher. 64 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:36,360 I wondered about the times where I too, like Peter, have tried to enter into those divine 65 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:41,400 moments with God, but not knowing how to take the first steps. 66 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:46,760 I wondered why Jesus told his disciples not to share this moment with anyone else. 67 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:54,520 There are so few times in scripture where God speaks clearly to everyone who is there 68 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:55,520 to hear. 69 00:05:55,520 --> 00:06:00,840 There are so few times where God isn't the quiet voice in your heart or in your dreams 70 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:08,520 or listening when you have a silent moment with God, but that God speaks clearly. 71 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,080 Why not share that with everyone? 72 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,200 Why not tell everyone what they have seen? 73 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:15,600 Why wait until the resurrection? 74 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:16,600 Why wait at all? 75 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,080 Why not now? 76 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,760 But one of my deepest wonderings this week as I read this story was about the revelation 77 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:30,520 of who Jesus is and what Jesus' ministry is about. 78 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:35,760 This story is our final in the season of Epiphany, and it so closely parallels the story that 79 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:42,640 we opened this season with, the story of Jesus' baptism by John in the River Jordan. 80 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:48,440 In both stories, and a sign of just how important that moment is, of just how near heaven has 81 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:53,400 drawn to earth, we hear the voice of God. 82 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:59,480 At Jesus' baptism, God reveals that Jesus is indeed the beloved Son of God whose mission 83 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:07,480 and ministry and whose saving act are pleasing and will always be pleasing in God's sight. 84 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:12,080 And in today's story of the Transfiguration, God takes it a step further. 85 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:18,440 God once again affirms that Jesus is the beloved Son, and as an imperative for us, instructions 86 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:25,920 to listen to Jesus, to listen and follow Him. 87 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:30,440 In the final piece of God's revelation for who Jesus is, and all of that falls into place 88 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:36,000 in this story, God has revealed it all so perfectly, clearly for us. 89 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:43,360 This is Jesus, the beloved Son of God whose mission is sanctified by God, pleasing to 90 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:50,120 God, and we are to listen to Him and pattern our lives after Him. 91 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,760 So the work then becomes for us to listen better, to see the ways in which we are not 92 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:59,040 being revealed in the world, around us and in our own lives. 93 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:04,040 When we slow down and actually make space for God to speak to us in our busy and full 94 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:13,240 lives, when we look and listen with the eyes and ears of our soul, where do we find God? 95 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,560 As we enter into this upcoming season of Lent, a time of reflection and repentance, as we 96 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:24,520 prepare ourselves for Easter, I invite you into a season of your own holy wonderings, 97 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:30,160 a time of sacred curiosity and reflection where your sole aim is just to come closer 98 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:38,640 to God, just to walk more closely with your Lord, to not seek impossible answers to life's 99 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:45,280 hardest questions, but just to work as God tells us so clearly in these passages, to 100 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:49,840 walk and listen with Jesus a little more fully. 101 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:55,700 I wonder where you are seeing God at work in your life right now. 102 00:08:55,700 --> 00:09:02,720 I wonder where and how God is choosing to be revealed to you, not only in ourselves 103 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,680 but also in people around us. 104 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:12,920 I wonder how you are called to be a Christ revealer in your lives, your friends, your 105 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:17,920 families, your neighbors, even strangers. 106 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:24,160 I wonder how your relationship with God has and will continue to transform over the many 107 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:31,720 years of your life, all the days that you have left and all the time after that as well. 108 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:39,640 I wonder how God will change us, how our relationship with God will change us if we let it, how 109 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:47,700 our lives can become richer and fuller when we learn to listen to and follow Jesus. 110 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:49,880 God is very much at work in the world around us. 111 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,480 God is at work in your life. 112 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:52,480 God is at work in my life. 113 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:57,080 God is at work in as many lives as there are people on this planet. 114 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,880 As we close out this season of Epiphany, my prayer for us is that we continue to seek 115 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:07,160 those ways in which God is being revealed to us, in which God is coming to us and asking 116 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:10,080 us to follow. 117 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:15,560 So I pray for your holy wonderings in the days ahead, that each of you will notice God 118 00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:21,880 within yourselves and within each other, that you will have eyes and ears and hearts and 119 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:27,640 minds that are open enough to see how God is being revealed.