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February 18, 2007
The Rev. Canon Grant Carey
I have been thinking about the many seminarians that have served here at Trinity Cathedral over the past years. All of them, to my knowledge, have become successful deacons, priests, and pastors—and one, Katherine Jefferts Schori, is now the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
This led me to recall that when I was in my second year at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, I was assigned to Saint John’s, in Petaluma. The Rector decided that as part of my learning experience, I should shepherd the high-school group. What I remember most was the time we took part in an ecumenical gathering where the person in charge had us sit in a circle and explain how we perceived God.
One young person, who was not from our group, said that she perceived God as a white cloud floating high in the heavens sending blessings like the falling of a soft rain. “That is very interesting and poetic”, said the leader. Now let’s ask our Episcopal friends to tell us how they understand what God is like.
One of our young ladies immediately raised her hand, stood up and, with great conviction, said:
“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth...” and after flawlessly reciting the entire Creed, she sat down. There was complete silence!; The discussion was over; There was nothing more to be said.
We broke for refreshments.
I had almost forgotten this incident until I reflected on today’s Gospel
- The Transfiguration of Jesus.
This season of the Christian Year “The Epiphany,”...calls us to consider who Jesus really was, how he was revealed – not as a white cloud floating in the sky – but a real person who shared our human nature, lived and died for us, and brought us into a relationship with the One who is God and Father of us all – and not a “white cloud floating in the sky”!
St. John is more than specific: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” And all the Gospel lessons we have heard during these past weeks have focused our attention on how God has been revealed to us in Jesus.
I remember someone once asking me, “How can I possibly understand what God is like?” And I answered , “You have to look at Jesus!”
And that is what happened to Peter, James, and John, Jesus’ closest friends. After they had come down from the mountain, their lives were changed forever.
They had seen Jesus “Transfigured”.
His face had shone like the sun. His clothes became white as light. And they perceived two persons with him whom they identified as Moses, the Lawgiver, and Elijah, the Prophet ---- and a voice had said: “This is my dear Son in whom I am delighted. Pay attention to him.”
And they were frightened out of their wits... Until Jesus touched them, and said: “Don’t be afraid.”
What a story!
One of the most memorable experiences of my life was visiting the Mount of the Transfiguration when I was at St. George’s College in Jerusalem.
Jesus and Peter, James, and John hiked up to the top: I, along with Don and Carol Anne Brown and others from Trinity Cathedral – rode up in taxicabs with drivers who seemed to have no regard for either their lives or those of their passengers!
While Peter, James, and John may have been “scared out of their wits” after their vision, we experienced this same sensation on the way up!
Finally we arrived and walked to the summit – and what a sight we saw: North, south, east, and west – Egypt– the Mediterranean Sea– the mountains of Syria, Arabia.
The air was rarified.
What a place for a vision!
No words that can possibly explain what Peter, James, and John experienced that day. One can only surmise that, for them, there was an awakening – an epiphany: – that changed their lives. Their “mountain-top experience” gave them understanding and sense of purpose that enabled them to accomplish in their lives what before could have seemed impossible.
Peter wanted to enshrine the moment. But Jesus meant for him to carry the moment with him–to enshrine it not in any one place, but rather within his own life.
I believe that is was because of their new-found insight which they shared with the others, that the Apostles were enabled to leave their provincial homeland, and go out into a world far removed from anything they had known before– and change it forever!
Unlike those of us on our journey who experienced white-knuckles from hairpin turns and mad drivers– Jesus and his companions walked back down – and when they reached the plain below, where they were confronted with the reality of the world they had left... poverty, ignorance, and faithlessness.
What the disciples learned that day was that they couldn’t remain on a mountain top for long, however wonderful and awe-inspiring that experience might be – their life and work was to be found in the place below– but with one difference: when they returned, they were not the same as when they climbed to the top.
Haltingly at first, but later on with purpose and enthusiasm, they and the others not only changed the course of history– they touched the lives of each one of us here today In a sense, we, too, have climbed the mountain and have caught sight of the King in his Glory!
Peter wanted to enshrine the moment. But Jesus meant for him to carry the moment with him – to enshrine it, not in one place, but in his heart – within his own life experience. This story of the Transfiguration is a reminder that, try as we might, we cannot intellectualize God, nor can we confine God to one place because no shrine is big enough to contain him. We can only experience him!
Beginning with our Baptism we have been climbing the mountain with Jesus... and reaching the mountain top, we see him as he really is: we experience his presence in Word and Sacrament— and in the love he has shown for us and for all God’s people.
And, coming down from the mountain, walking with him---- we are encouraged and strengthened to accept the challenge that awaits us in the days and months head.. knowing that we need never walk the way alone!
Amen.
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