Homily for Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, Celebrated August 5, 2012

Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ.  Today is not simply about celebrating a moment of revelation in which Jesus divinity was made clear to his disciples.  This event also includes the experience and example of Peter James and John who become an archetype for us.  They symbolically express how the presence of God in our lives can be both awe inspiring and transformative. 

Beginning with our story from the book of Exodus we see that Moses is transformed by the time he spends close to God.  The author expresses this transformation by describing the glowing or shining nature of Moses face.  Old Testament scholars will talk about this as expressing Moses privileged status as God's servant.  But I believe there's a deeper message for us Christians here, Moses as another archetypal example for the rest of us. 

In the second reading we heard today, the author (Peter) gives his testimony of hearing the voice of God declare Jesus as His Son!  In a sense reminiscing about the experience we hear of in today's gospel story.  He assures us of the reliability of the apostolic message by appeal to the transfiguration of Jesus in glory.  Here, as elsewhere, the New Testament insists on continued reminders as necessary to preserve the historical facts about Jesus and the truths of the faith; particularly that Jesus is the son of God. 

In the story we heard today of Jesus’ transfiguration, Moses and Elijah play a pivotal role.  They represent the Old Testament traditions of the law and the prophets; which acted as a counterbalance for each other.  At the end of this episode, the heavenly voice will identify Jesus as the one to be listened to now, Jesus fulfills both the law and the prophets and begins a completely new era of God's relationship with the human race.

Jesus transfiguration was a profound experience for the three disciples who were present.  Hearing from the tradition of Peter, we can see that it was held as a reality check or validation of Jesus' message and example.  It is also an illustration of how our lives will be transformed if we allow Christ to enter deeply into our spirit.  Just as it was a transformative experience for Peter James and John.  We will certainly not glow like Moses or like Jesus himself.  But, like Peter James and John we will be changed in gradual and yet noticeable ways.  We will become more tolerant of the irritating habits of others.  We will become more peaceful during times of stress; more thoughtful before taking action, i.e., we will become more Christ like.  We will even find that emotional and spiritual healing comes quicker after the many painful moments life in this world brings our way. 

My brothers and sisters let us take the example of Peter James and John deeply into our hearts and each day ask Christ to send us his transforming grace.

Homily for Proper 12 B, July 29, 2012

In our first reading today we heard about the Prophet Elisha and the multiplication of loaves.  As bible literature goes, this story sets the precedent for Jesus much larger miracle; feeding thousands. 

In our second reading Paul is following up last week’s message with a prayer for the Ephesians.  Because of his Gentile readers’ faith in the Lord Jesus, their love toward all the saints (God’s holy people) and sharers in the boundless riches of Christ; Paul encourages them not lose heart over his suffering.  He then prays to the Father, who is the source of life itself, for the Ephesians.  The prayer includes four petitions: inward strengthening through the Spirit; for the risen Jesus to be the grounding of their outward expression of love; that God may give them the power to understand the totality of Christ’s love; that they grow into full knowledge of God’s ways. 

The gospel stories we heard today are part of John’s plan to tell us about certain signs which he hopes will encourage belief, be a starting point for understanding Jesus, and recognizing Christ for who he is. 

In v.11, the word used to describe Jesus giving thanks is eucharistesas; many New Testament scholars see this as a deliberate reference to the Last Supper and the gift of the Eucharist.  A strong possibility since John’s telling of the Last Supper does not describe the sharing of the bread and wine.  John, in the second generation of Christians, already sees Eucharist has having power and implication which reach far beyond a finite moment of worship. 

Hunger and emptiness are themes that run through our lessons today, and God’s response to them.  Our world is a hungry place.  People are hungry for food, for jobs, for love, for care and for leadership that cares.  The list of our hunger goes on and on.  What the Bible knows is what we all know – our hungers include a spiritual void or emptiness.

We are hungry for God and that hunger is very real; yet people often deceive themselves into believing they can feed that void with other things such as food, money, fancy clothes, fancy cars, more technology, more stuff.  Accumulating so much stuff, stuff that some believe says something about whom and what they are – stuff that is somehow mistaken for who and what they are.  The more one define themselves by what they have (or consume), the more that still empty spiritual void hurts and the more we obsessively one acquires “cool stuff;” pushes excessive calories in their mouth or other dangerous substances…  The vicious cycle can even become self destructive, with over whelming credit card debt, diabetes from years of unhealthy diet, liver disease, etc. 

Our world has legitimate hunger also; many suffer from starvation or malnutrition.  We, like Jesus, have gifts to bring.  But, simple outreach, funds and foods to help the suffering don't go far enough.  We are also called to give the spiritual nourishment we have from Jesus.  To help fill that deeper void people experience.  Many in the US have neither adequate physical or spiritual food.  Others are bloated on many kinds of physical stuff but are starving deep inside for the presence of God.  It is our place to follow Jesus' example and reach out to provide support for both kinds of suffering; offering soup for the hungry and spirituality for the empty. 

Paul’s prayer today is a good reminder of the spiritual gift we each have to offer.  Both praying for others and teaching them how to pray!  Inviting them to the Lord’s Table, to read the Bible and join us in Christian community.  All these simple invitations and offers of spiritual support sound simple but lead to a profound gift in people’s lives.