Transfiguration C 2007

Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm 99

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

Luke 9:28-43a

Are you tired today?&= nbsp; I’m wiped. As mo= st of you know, it is a very difficult time for us with the death of Paul’s brother. We are leaving for <= st1:State w:st=3D"on">Ohio tomorrow.

The phone calls, the stress, the grief…all of it= is exhausting, both physically and mentally.

You’ve been there. Times when all you want to do is c= url up in a ball and sleep for days. &= nbsp; The stress of work, family, the cold weather we’ve been having= …[Papers due, tests to take…]

It all takes its toll.

In today’s Gospel is says: “the disciples were weighed = down with sleep…”

This following Jesus around has been wearing on a person, the feeding of the fi= ve thousand, the healings, the exorcisms…and then when they are finally = away from the crowds and alone with Jesus he starts talking about his suffering = and death. “Take up your cr= oss…” Jesus tells them.

But we are so tired already…

Now is a climb up the mountain. Are Peter, John and James ho= nored to be asked to go along? Or a= re they resentful because the other disciples are getting a day off?

Yawning, rubbing their eyes, they almost miss it. They almost miss the incredible ap= pearance of Moses and Elijah.: The dazzling white shining appearance of Jesus.

Whoa!! A= re we dreaming? Are we in the state between waking and sleeping? = Or is this really happening? =

Peter shakes his head, rubs his eyes again, and blurts= out “Master, it is good for us to here; let us make three dwellings/three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

I think he just wants to be included! Be the master planner perhaps? The recorder of events?

Or perhaps the vision is so beautiful that he wants to= stay in it! He wants to stay= on that mountain with the fathers of the faith, Moses, and Elijah. Stay with a Jesus who is shi= ning like the sun.

Wouldn’t that be nice? Stay in that safe place up on the mountain, away from the crowds and demands. No cell phone reception, no e-mail= s, no demands.

Just pitch a tent and make a fire and rest in the glow= of God.

But what is this?&nbs= p; Another voice? Talking= over Peter’s babbling ideas…

“This is my Son, my Chose= n; listen to him!” <= /p>

Listen! Listen! Listen! To Jesus.

Listen to Jesus say&n= bsp; “I will not leave you abandoned” “Your sins have been forgiven, go in peace.” “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.”

Listen to Jesus, God’s Son, bringing words of forgiveness and = mercy, hope and life.

Even in the midst of exhaustion, even in the midst of death.

Listen…

That is harder than it sounds. We have so many voices calli= ng us away, like the Isrealites and= their golden calf…we turn to things we can see and touch to provide comfort= and security. We listen to the world say= 230;you get what you deserve. Each pe= rson for themselves. A pre-emptive strike will save us.

But today we are called to listen to God’s Son.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Even in our exhaustion. Listen….”Lord to whom = shall we go? You have the words of eternal life..”

Teach us to listen!

The disciples have to leave the mountain. They couldn’t stay up their forever. The air is too thin&= #8230;the glory too intense. Jesus goes= down with them and back into the midst of healing and teaching. And showing the greatness of God that is present in the midst of daily despair.

Now, the thing is,&nb= sp; when Moses came out of the tent where the ark of the covenant was, where he talked to God, his face was shining. And when the disciples came = down the mountain, I imagine the others noticed a change.

And when I look out at you, there are times when a face lights up. The tension melts away= 230;and you too, are transfigured.

Our encounters with God change us. Deeply. I will always remember the b= aptism I did in a neo-natal unit. Tw= ins, as small as the palm of my hands. &nb= sp; The parents weeping. I carefully reached in with distilled water on a cotton ball. You are baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And as I baptized these tiny babies, the nature of the parent’s w= eeping changed. Still tears, yes. Still crying, yes. But different now, more peaceful.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> More trusting. God was holding all of us th= at day. Present among us. And we heard words of comfor= t and love. God wasn’t = going to leave anyone in that room abandoned. No matter what.

Whether in life or in death.

We have seen the Lord. IN this place, in each other, on the streets and in = the news. We have seen the = Lord.

Bringing true peace, true comfort, true hope.

Listen to him. &= nbsp; It will change your life. It will change your death.

Amen.