Online Sermons
10th Sunday in Pentecost / The Transfiguration (transfered): August 9, Martha Rogers
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There is an old folktale told to me many years ago about a European man who saved and saved for a trip to the new world. He toiled long and hard to risk getting a passage to the future. After years of planning, working hard and saying goodbye to his family, he purchased a ticket on a steam liner coming to the United States. He had a dream of a new life, a new future and he wanted to live in America. So he set out with his meager trunk of belongings and packed some hard cheese , some jerky and dry bread for the journey across the Atlantic Ocean. He had his heart set on this journey and would endure whatever he had to, filled with hope and expectation, to get to his new life.
Every night, he would go to the dining room area and sit outside the doors of the dining room on the deck, eating small pieces of his hard cheese and jerky. Legend tells us he never felt bad not eating in the brightly lit dining room with all their marvelous meals. He was willing to do what he had to do and if he could just get a glimpse of what was happening with those Americans inside the dining room, he would be satisfied. For that would be his life sooner than later. So day after day he would sit on the cold deck, eating his meager rations, and enjoying the glimpse of a better life.
And every day the captain would open the door of the dining room and invite the young man in to join them. “Come and be with us, your meal is waiting,” the captain would say. But knowing he wasn’t properly prepared or dressed and that he didn’t have enough money to offer to pay for the good meal inside, the young man would always refuse and stay outside, enjoying the lights, the smells and the laughter of another reality inside. Every evening this scene repeated itself. But the young traveler would be satisfied that he had a glimpse of what his new life might bring and it gave him hope enough to stay outside in the dark and the cold.
Soon enough, the boat docked at Ellis Island and he could depart to come in and register his name. As he was departing the vessel, the captain stopped the young man and asked him why he would never accept the invitation to come in and dine with them. The young man, who really tried to avoid the prestigious captain, finally told him that he hadn’t the means to join such a feast. That the glimpse into another life was good enough for him.
It was then that the captain paled, looking unbelievably at the traveler. “Son” said the captain, “you didn’t need to do anything extra to join us. The meals were included with your fare, provided with your ticket. All you had to do was come in and join us.”Maybe that’s why when I get to have glimpses into a different perspective or activity, I’m always left hungry for more. Maybe that’s so with you also. A glimpse, a peek, a glance just doesn’t fill me up in certain situations.
The apostles Peter, James and John got a glimpse of Jesus in a new and perhaps overwhelming way in the gospel story we heard read just now. Up on the mountaintop, Jesus was transfigured, transformed, and his divinity emitted a glow of wonderful light.
This wonderful rabbi, teacher, friend and leader was seen with the prophets of old and God’s voice was heard telling them to listen to Jesus, that he was indeed the son of God. Today we celebrate with our prayers and our words the Feast of the Transfiguration.
What a scene that must have been. I can’t help but thank that Peter, James and John saw things in a whole new light. They had a glimpse of the power and the glory of God in their companion Jesus.They saw that Jesus is God: God involved in human life. What a momentous vision! They had the glimpse of a life different from the one they knew. I bet for these apostles nothing would be ordinary any more.
Transfiguration, or transformation, call it what you will, gave them a preview, a glimpse, not only of the divinity of Jesus but also of his resurrection, of God in Jesus, of glory and power. All in that glimpse into the future.
Peter, good ol’ bumbling Peter, wanted to preserve this experience forever and offered to build a dwelling so that the Jesus and the prophets could stay with him forever. But that was not what was needed. Peter was also transformed on that day, by that event, for he later wrote, in his letter or epistle which was also read to us this today, that we would do well to be attentive to this transforming moment as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts. Until, after our traveling and journeying in this life, we finally arrive at our final destination, having hope and expectation during the journey. There is a light shining in this world and that light is Jesus Christ.
But where do we see him in all his glory; transformed and transforming those who see him?
I just can’t answer that.
But I do know that he has paid for our journey and that all that we need has been provided. The invitation is there over and over again: come and join me, all you need to be nourished on is waiting for you.
Peter, James and John along with Jesus, with the young traveler, did not stay in one place. You can never do that in life. All moved on somewhere; from the mountain top back to daily life and routine, back to the challenges of life; off the boat from the old world to the new world,. One group of men was fed on accepting the invitation to listen and follow and join Jesus, now and in the life to come. The other man never took what was already provided for him and went hungry, endured a hard journey alone and only held on to a glimpse of new life, maybe staying hungrier than he hoped to be.
Could that be our challenge today? Are we satisfied with just a glimpse of what life could be or what the future could hold for us? Or do we take those glimpses and enter life headfirst fully confident that we are not alone, that we are provided for and that we have something oh -so-special with us and waiting for us. Do we wait on-deck for something better or do we follow Jesus right back into the daily-ness of life and immerse ourselves with all that we have been given, no matter what stage of life we find ourselves in?
You don’t need to do anything extra once you’ve had a glimpse of Christ, you are good enough and have all you need right with you. You don’t need to build a dwelling to keep the transformed Jesus near, he already dwells in you. You are the dwelling. You don’t need to keep chewing on the hard jerky of life. A much more digestible version of life is prepared and being served from the divine feast’s daily menu.
What we have to do is to accept, over and over again, the invitation to be Christ’s own. To find that light within. To come into it. For Jesus says to us: come and join me…..you have seen and heard me transformed and the same waits for you…..what has happened today points to the future and by knowing the future you can live with the true hope in the present!
Come on in…it’s all there waiting just for you. And nothing will be ordinary anymore.
Will you accept the invitation?
Will you participate with God in your life or stay just outside the invitation and not risk joining in in the present?
Will you enter into the light so that His light will live in you and you in the light?
Are you hungry for more?
Amen.