Readings
for Transfiguration/A:
Ex. 24:12-18; Mt. 17:1-9
February 6, 2005
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
"The Glory of God is the human person fully alive." (St. Irenaeus)
On this feast day of the Transfiguration, we hear the stories about how God has, in time, spoken with abundant clarity to humanity. God may also, from time to time, speak to some individually. Such is the case in today's readings from the Holy Scriptures. You will notice that the story in Exodus connects with the gospel story. In both, we hear about a dramatic revelation of the presence of God. Is it possible for us, in the 21st century, to experience such a strong presence of God in our lives and to hear God's will for us?
There is a well-know saying: "If you do not feel close to God, guess who has moved?" How can we re-arrange our lives so that our relationship with God is intimate and felt? How can we more fully open our eyes and hearts so that we can personally experience the glory of God? How can we develop a deeper spiritual outlook that will enable us to look beyond the externals of a person and see instead, the spark of God? How can we become fully alive so that our lives reveal the glory of God? Today's readings from the Holy Scriptures offer us some insights. Let's take a closer look!
In the first reading, Moses ascends the terrifying slopes of Mount Sinai to encounter the presence of God on behalf of the Hebrew people. As far as we know, Mt. Sinai was an active volcano in those days. While we tend to look on a volcano as merely a natural phenomenon, the Ancient people saw it as a manifestation of the power of God. It must have taken Moses a tremendous amount of courage to spend anytime on that mountain. But it was on that mountain, in absolute solitude, that Moses heard the voice of God. Through God's voice, Moses learned how the Hebrew people were to comport their communal life so that it would be faithful, righteous, just, and abundant.
In the gospel story according to Matthew, Jesus invites his disciples, Peter, James, and John to go away and have some solitude from the crowds. Together, they ascend an unnamed mountain in Palestine. After a time, the disciples begin to see Jesus in a new light. The gospel reports: "Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white." [Mt. 17] No longer did the disciples look at Jesus simply from an external point of view. No longer did they see Jesus as a poor, Jewish man in his thirties, with bad breath, bad teeth, body odor, dirty fingernails, a dusty nightgown, and callused feet, trying his best to preach the word of God. Instead, they were able to see the glory of God revealed through his personhood; one who was beloved by God and with whom God was well pleased.
Helmut Thielicke (a German theologian who spoke against the Hitler regime) was fond of saying that he thought nothing actually happened to Jesus on the mountain. What took place, he felt, was the opening of the eyes of the disciples to see Jesus as he really was- a glory that had to remain hidden, because human eyes could not bear it to always be revealed. Of course, this is only a theory, and in no way detracts from God revealing God's self through people, in specific times and places.
A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to spend time with and hear the bishop of New Hampshire speak. As you might remember, Bishop Gene Robinson is a controversial figure in the Episcopal Church because he is living in a long-term, committed relationship with his partner who happens to be a man. His consecration as a bishop of the Anglican Communion has caused much consternation among some factions while it has been a cause of celebration for others. The question is this: Should the Church break with tradition to ordain to "the office of bishop," an openly gay man? Sixteen years ago, the Anglican Communion dealt with a similar situation when the diocese of Massachusetts elected the first woman bishop. The question then was: Should the church break with tradition and ordain to the "office of bishop," an openly female woman?
Both of these decisions were monumental in the eyes of many. Theological arguments were drawn up on both sides. In my opinion, and this is strictly my opinion, the theological arguments against ordaining them were weak, while the cultural prejudices were strong.
I wanted to meet this man, Gene Robinson, against whom so much hate, disgust, and threats against his life, was projected. Was he really as evil, unfaithful, and disgusting as his opponents painted him? Before I met him, I knew a little about his background. His skull had been crushed during birth. The attending physician was certain that he would die. So he reshaped his skull with his hands and gave him to his parents to take him home to die. But Gene did not die. His parents believed that God had spared his life so that he would become a special messenger of God's grace.
Growing up in the evangelical tradition, Gene had a very intimate relationship with Jesus and continues to hold a fairly conservative theological outlook. But his heart is very large and he has always erred on the side of inclusivity. He eventually became an Episcopal Priest where he has been much beloved by his colleagues and parishioners. He is smart, prophetic, compassionate, prayerful, funny, talented, and pastoral. Yet he isn't afraid to deal with conflict head on or to make difficult decisions. It was no surprised that the diocese of New Hampshire elected him as their bishop.
Like Bishop Barbara Harris before him (i.e. the 1st woman bishop), Gene Robinson wore a bullet proof vest under his vestments at his consecration. Most of the "deacons" that surrounded him were not really deacons. They were security guards who were to take him to a private place (where three bishops were waiting), to consecrate him in private if the public consecration were interrupted by gunfire.
Gene Robinson entered the New Hampshire convention as a simple and faithful priest. He emerged as the bishop-elect with 27 requests for interviews by international reporters. After much publicity, he received a letter from a young woman in prison. She wrote: "I am not an Episcopalian. I am not even a Christian. I do not practice any religion. But reading about your election, gives me hope. If someone like you can be elected bishop, then I have hope that there is a group of good people who could forgive me and love me in spite of what I did that put me in this prison."
Bishop Robinson went to visit this young woman. So deeply touched was she by his love and his inclusive posture, that she and six other women received the sacrament of baptism and have begun a new life in Christ. On Christmas Eve of 2004, Bishop Robinson put aside some of his precious time to visit those women in prison. Christmas Eve is a time when few people have the time to spend with the despised, the lowly, the imprisoned.
Whatever you may or may not think about his sexuality, Gene Robinson is an agent of God's love and grace. I wish those who threatened Gene's life, who blame him for all of the ills of the Anglican Communion, and who believe that he represents the devil incarnate, could spend some time with this holy man. If they could look beyond the externals, perhaps they might see the glory of God revealed in his ministry.
How can we develop a deeper spiritual outlook that will enable us to look beyond our prejudices, beyond the externals of a person, and see instead, the spark of God? How can we re-arrange our lives so that our relationship with God is intimate and felt? How can we open our hearts and eyes more fully so that we can personally experience the glory of God?
Today's readings give us some clues. Both Moses and the disciples took time out of their busy day, to go to a quiet place. This is the spiritual discipline of solitude. Solitude is time, placed aside, with no agenda, except to listen to God. It takes time to quiet one's thoughts but it is often in the quiet when we hear that small, still voice.
Perhaps solitude is the most important of all the spiritual disciplines for the very busy people of Silicon Valley. Finding time for solitude takes effort. I know that each year, many of the men and women in this parish find time to go on the men's or women's get-away weekend to have some social time together. What if we were to make the same effort to spend a weekend in solitude; a time when we could focus on hearing God's voice? I know that the children of St. Jude's are heavily scheduled. What would happened if we were to give our children a "day off" to simply be, to day- dream, and to relax, instead of entertaining them with various activities? I know that it is hard for families to have quality time together. But what would happen if we were to begin our meals with a moment of silence or spend 5 minutes of quiet time together before turning on a video?
"Behold, I am making all things new." [Rev. 21] We become better people when we put aside some quiet time, to take a breath and to allow the spirit of God to fill us with the fruit of the spirit. Solitude makes the spiritual life possible. It frees us from the bondage of others, of endless chatter, and tiresome doing and thinking. It is a time when we ignore the rat race of life. Solitude is the doorway that opens up into the mystery of God so that when God's glory is revealed, our eyes are trained to recognize it. Solitude is one opportunity for transformation that promotes being fully alive.
"O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory." [Collect of the day, BCP 217]
| Updated 2/7/05 |
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