Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Sermon series:

2010-2-14 800.mp3

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As I was preparing this week, thinking about the experience that Peter, James and John had with Jesus on the mountain, I thought of those places where I have had "mountain-top" experiences- times, and places- not necessarily literally on mountains, of profound spiritual impact on my life- where I experienced in a powerful way the presence, and then the direction of God.

In Piffard, New York, in the Genesee River Valley- about ninety minutes south Rochester, there is one such place for me: the Abbey of the Genesee- a Benedictine Monastery, (same order as the monks at St. John's...). It is set by the river, in rolling hills- like the brothers in Collegeville, the monks bake bread to support themselves, as they pray, worship and then work, mostly in silence. The chapel is both ancient and modern- a sweeping roof covering dark wood and beautiful stained glass, scented of incense, choir stalls for each of the brothers, who chant the ancient offices of the daily liturgy, seven times a day, beginning prime before dawn and finishing with compline, prayer at the close of the day, each and every day... You can get a feel for the place in a wonderful little book by Henri Nouwen called "The Genesee Diary."

To walk onto the Abbey Grounds, to share quiet conversations with the Guest Master (Brother Anthony, in those days, who assured me that the brothers daily prayed for me and the congregation I served...), to worship with the community, to simply walk in the beauty of the place and pray in silence, as the community lived in silence- brought me into the presence of God in ways that were so powerful, so helpful, so refreshing and profound that as I share it with you makes me want to leave right now. Do you have such a place? Have you been to such a place?  A place where you can go, and literally "retreat," a place of refuge or safety, according to Webster's... For some of you it might be a cabin...or a camp, or a garden... or even a quiet room in your house...Perhaps it could even be a worship service on Sundays, if everything is working for you.I bet if I asked you- in fact, I will ask you to close your eyes, and picture that place- maybe even imagine the smells and sounds... A place for being rejuvenated, restored- and whether you have ever articulated it that way or not, a place where you experience God.

If you cannot think of such a place immediately, let me offer this space to you- our building is open during the week, and both the sanctuary and the chapel are available for you... And I would hope that our worship services could be that for you, as well- it's not necessarily about solitude- it's about being open to God's presence. Because, I believe, we all need such a place- a place out of the ordinary, out of the daily routine, a place for both seeking and knowing God's presence and direction. That's why Jesus, throughout the Gospels, would find places to go and pray. If you're going to have any chance at all for a mountain-top experience- to begin to know the powerful presence of God, and see God's direction for your life, following Jesus' example of regular prayer is the way to start.

As we start our Gospel lesson, Jesus is taking Peter, James and John with him to the mountain to what... pray... For Luke, this is entire story begins with prayer: Jesus is praying, and "the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white."

In Jesus' prayer, God changes him: Peter, James and John see Jesus as he really is- as who he really is... God's Son- God's Messiah- God, become a human being. And they see with him the single two most important characters of the Hebrew Scriptures: Moses and Elijah. Moses, the one who was called by God to lead the Children of Israel out of slavery from Egypt... Moses, who received God's Law on Mount Sinai- who the Bible tells us when he returned down from the mountain, his face was glowing- to the point where the people asked him to cover his face, because the brilliance was too much for them. (That's the veil reference in our first reading today- which Paul then uses as a metaphor to discuss our relationship with God- veiled, God hidden or unveiled, God present and known ) That's what God's presence does to you: it changes you.

Moses is worth learning about- read the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (when you get to the rules, skim over them so you can keep the narrative going... the rules are killers... In fact, I think one of the reasons why people find it hard to read the Bible is you get stuck in some very boring places and give up...) Moses is a wonderful example of both being human and stubborn and faithful- all of the contradictions that we bring as people- and yet, because he  was able to let go of the things that can get between God and us- his position, his possessions and his own power, God used him- God filled him with God's power that we remember him thousands of years later. And Elijah- the one who was called as prophet- as preacher- in one of the worst times of Israel's history, when the people were tempted to leave God and follow the local god named "Baal..." Elijah called them back in spectacular fashion on Mt. Carmel- inviting the priests of Baal to sacrifice a bull and then call down their god to burn the carcass, which of course, didn't happen. Elijah, then, did the same thing, except that after slaughtering his bull, he poured water over it, and the fire from God was so intense it not only consumed the bull, it consumed the very stones of the altar.

Elijah also visited the Mountain of God- in this instance called Horeb, and had a conversation with God- very different than Moses'... You can read Elijah's story in 1 Kings 17- 2 Kings 2... It's a vivid read, and in a dark and violent time. Both Moses and Elijah departed the world in strange fashion: Moses died, and was buried by God, and no one knows where... And Elijah is one of two characters in the Bible who didn't die: he was swept up by God in a fiery chariot. So these are the two who are talking to Jesus about his own departure at Jerusalem. Luke tells us that they are all talking about Jesus' coming crucifixion! What's more, Peter, James and John, heard the conversation: they see Jesus in all his glory talking about his impending death!

And it is at this point Peter tries to join the conversation; it makes perfect sense! Here are Moses, Elijah and God's Messiah in their glory- wow- it would be great to stay in their presence. AND, if they do, they don't have to go to Jerusalem. "Let's stay here, I'll build booths- houses for you..." Then comes the cloud covering them all, and God's voice (It's clear that Peter's plan is not God's) rings out: "This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him..." And then, Jesus is alone, and they start down the mountain.

Now our Gospel reading ends there- but I do want to keep going in Luke for just a second: In the next passage, on the very next day, after Jesus' Transfiguration, or Change, Jesus heals a child possessed by a demon- it sounds very much like epilepsy, the way it is described in the story. The Mountain-top experience is followed by caring for someone else- it is followed by ministry, by service to someone in need. And of course, Jesus does go to Jerusalem. In his ultimate act of ministry, (again, preceded by prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane) he is betrayed, arrested, tried unfairly and condemned to death- he departs this world on a Roman cross, dying in agony, taking on himself everything that separates you and me from God and from each other. And because he was raised from the dead on the third day, we know that death is not the last word in our existence: that God loves you so much that there is nothing in life or death that can separate you from God's love and presence in Jesus. Jesus will walk with you through your life, through your death and through your eternity.

I have preached on the Transfiguration texts numerous times, and have questioned in my heart what this story had to do with you and me- I mean, all this shining, and characters from the past- but that was before the prayer connection was made. Our passage from Luke shows us just how crucial prayer is for your life. We need only to look at Jesus' example, and see how it can work for you and me!Do you remember that I said Jesus' prayer doesn't change God- but it changed Jesus? It was while he was praying that his face and clothes changed... You and I don't pray to change God; we pray because prayer changes us!

In fact, let me show you a prayer for the beginning of each day that will change your day, and change you in the process. I was taught this in Copenhagen by a Baptist friend of mine (you can learn from anyone if you're open to it!), and I find it both helpful and powerful! First thing in the morning, when you get out of bed, stand and raise your arms with your hands facing up, and pray this: "Thank you, Lord, for this new day. This day, Lord, and everything that is in it, is yours, and I offer it to you..." Then turn your hands to the ground, and pray, "All of my burdens, distractions- (whatever you don't want to carry through the day...), I let go of, and trust in you to pick them up..."And then sometime during the day, take fifteen minutes or so to talk to the Lord- It can become a "min-mountain top experience" for you, and prepare you for when you are on the mountain later; it will help you more easily converse with God.

I always begin by thanking God for who he is, for the gift of Jesus, and all I have and am. Then I try and work through the people I am praying for. I am buying a small journal to use; it is harder and harder for me to remember all the people I need to pray for... Then I pray for the issues of the day- both mine and the world's. Learn to leave silence built in- to let God speak to you... Prayer is simply conversation- don't worry about fancy language, not "thee and Thou," and it is a two way street- too often, the conversation is one sided, and it's an important side that is missing...

Finally (do you know what it means when a preacher says "finally?" Absolutely nothing!), we don't get to stay on the mountain! Mountain-top experiences end! Moses had to leave Sinai and lead the people. Elijah had to leave the Mountain of God and serve as prophet. Jesus, Peter, James and John left the mountain to continue Jesus' ministry- and his journey to the cross. I had to leave the Abbey of the Genesee, and you don't get to stay on your mountain, either! Prayer time/quiet time ends!Our prayer is the essential foundation for all effective ministry; the mountain-top experience that gets us ready to serve and reach out in mission in Jesus' Name. And the same Jesus who is with us as we pray is the one who comes with us as we go out into the world.Prayer is something every person- from young to old can do, and I want to invite your prayers in a specific way. We have been talking here at Bethlehem about reaching 20,000 people in the metro area by 2020- ten years from now. And I have been asked, "how are we going to do that?"

You and I are going to start today: I want you to start praying for two people you know who don't have the relationship that you and I have with our savior Jesus. You and I know that in Christ, our past has been forgiven, our present is filled with significance as we serve others, and our future is one of hope. You and I know that in Christ, we have brothers and sisters- deep and meaningful relationships that matter to us in a lonely, hurting world. How can we not share him? I want you to pray that your friends will be open to the conversation- open to touch of the Holy Spirit. And I want you to pray for the words you will need when the time comes for you to share- both your own faith, and an invitation to "come and see" who this Jesus is and the difference He can make in their lives...The Bible promises that you will receive those words when the time is right!

Can you imagine how God might use you and me if we trust in God to open people to the hearing of the Good News of Jesus Christ? Can you imagine the effect on you and me if we believe that God will use us to reach others- just as God has promised! The call to prayer is the call to faith; the call to faith is the call to action. God is waiting to use us even more powerfully than God already has. The question you and I face is whether we will respond to God's challenge to reach out- to believe God can and will use you and me in ways we haven't seen and can't imagine, but which God promises to show us if we but dare step out-to share his love to a world and to people who are crying out in pain! The first step is prayer; it is time to begin, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

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