Change Your Point of View

Change Your Point of View  

Exodus 24:12-18  

Matthew 17:1-9  

Mt. Tabor is revered as the place where the Transfiguration of Jesus took place. While there are great spines of connected hills and mountains throughout the central part of the State of Israel, Mt. Tabor stands alone on a broad plain west of the Sea of Galilee. It is visible for miles in every direction. 

To the northwest of Mt. Tabor is the plain of Armageddon, where the Revelation predicts a great battle at the end of time. I observed a peaceful scene at Armageddon from Mt. Tabor days after President Trump was inaugurated. I have pictures. 

The top of Mt. Tabor is a wide and relatively flat parcel of land, several acres in size. This site has a history of its own, having served as the site of a multiple monasteries, and the scene of many battles between the Muslims and Jews and Christians, and changing hands several times throughout the centuries. Today there is a Roman Catholic Church and an Orthodox church with a few monks in residence. 

The lectionary offers us a companion scripture from Exodus, where Moses goes up the mountain to meet with God, for 40 days and nights. The Agenda was never published. Moses left that extended meeting with a stone tablet containing the 10 Commandments.

Together, these passages recall God revealing God’s glory to select people in a high and remote location. The nice thing about a mountain is that strangers do not wander through at an awkward moment on their way to somewhere else. The mountain assures a level of privacy. There is privacy even without the cloud that protects the guests from being overwhelmed by the glorious presence of God. 

There is also an element of needing to pay the price to get to the top of the mountain. When I went, we took the air-conditioned tour bus half way up the mountain, and then at a small Bedouin village, transferred to smaller, more nimble vans, to navigate the narrow road and sharp switchbacks to the summit. There are hiking trails that traverse the near 2,000 foot climb, but I was not tempted to climb. 

We talked about these scriptures in Sunday School last week. You would be welcome to join us at 8:50 to talk about the scriptures. In our session last week we addressed the question “what would you ask God - if you were together in a private meeting?” 

The best articulated answer was, “I know you are pleased with Jesus, but God, are you pleased with me? Is there more you intend for me to do, am I missing a part of the plan?”  

We know that this story was important to Matthew. Matthew is very concerned to promote and defend the description of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, and the new Moses. This story fits the Mosaic pattern to a tee. 

Every year the lectionary takes us to this story of the Transfiguration on the last Sunday before we begin Lent. Lent is a season of six weeks, 40 days and 40 nights not counting Sundays, where we do our best to consider our sinful natures. 

Shrove Tuesday (also known in some countries as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake day) is the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. In others, especially those where it is called Mardi Gras or some translation thereof, this is a carnival day, and also the last day of "fat eating" or “fat Tuesday" before the fasting period of Lent. 

Lent is observed by those who "make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with.”^[3] 

The final week of Lent is known as Holy Week. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when we consider Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and closes with a remembrance of the Last Supper, arrest and beating, execution and burial. All of this is resolved in the celebration of the empty tomb and resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

I believe that this recounting of the Transfiguration is intended to give you and I hope, before we trudge through the work of 40 days and nights of sober reflection on our short comings. We have hope because we know how the story ends. Jesus, our brother and our leader, is finally revealed as our savior. The God of heaven and earth is revealed to be one who honors those lives that have an intentional spiritual dimension, that motivates practical living. 

The Good News is that while the world continues to turn away from the call to love and sharing, God remains faithful to the same values. The world today, is just as likely to fail to hear and appreciate the message of Jesus as the establishment was unable to hear him in his day. Like Peter, James and John, we have seen the light of God’s truth. Even when the our closest friends get hooked by the siren call of the “feeling of safety” - at the expense of the poor and the stranger, we can move forward, and follow the path that Jesus walked, knowing that it pleases God. 

The disciples no doubt, were all hoping that at some point, the great throngs of people would hear the message of Jesus, and, like them, become followers. On the top of Mt. Tabor, that got a glimpse of how well God is pleased with Jesus, and it did not depend on the masses. It also must have changed their understanding. The message of God is true, whether of not anyone believes the truth, “likes” the truth, or even re-tweets it. 

These scriptures reveal God who is so glorious, our eyes require shielding. God is so glorious, that holy prophets throughout the ages, are still alive and reflecting God’s goodness. This God is well pleased with those who will follow the lead of Jesus; feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and lame, speaking words of peace where words of war abound. 

Friends, we are assured of God’s love, whenever we stay close to our beloved Jesus. It changes our point of view, to know the eternal truth. We know that God is well pleased with Jesus, and we are happy to say - “We have seen the light!” Amen.