"It is good that we are here"
Luke 9: 28B - 36
There is no doubt that today’s movie production has become all
about special effects. You sometimes
wonder, where’s the story? It’s all explosions, dazzling light or unbelievable
visuals. You walk out wondering, “How did they do that?”
Whether its outer space battles, a turbulent ocean scene, war
battle fields and conflict, vast armies, or created natural wonders and
animation, movie images today have become so authentic that awards, including
the coveted Oscar, are given a special category for cinematic special effects
as technicians and artists make fantasy appear to be reality.
As we journey through Lent, we see in our scriptures this
weekend about what special effects artists in Hollywood may salivate over. The
first reading from Genesis offers a feast for the imagination as we see Abram
in the desert. I can see a vast Montana night sky dotted with numerous distant
stars and galaxies. Some of the stars
might streak across the darkness of distant space as we hear the voice of God
speak to Abram: “Look up at the sky and count the stars.”
The most fantastic promise, however, that God makes with Abram
is not so much the impressive scene of natural wonder but God’s promise that
his descendants will be like the countless stars Abram can see. Now, if Abram
was in his 20’s we could say that God offered something hopeful and
impressive. But the fact that Abram was
long beyond child producing years, as was his wife Sarah thought to be sterile,
we might say that God was simply creating some sort of special effect for Abram
to make fantasy appear to be reality. Was this just an illusion of God or some
spiritual symbolism?
Yet, we know that God did not confuse Abram or try to offer
some visual illusion. God calls Abram to
faith – to trust that what seems impossible will indeed be made possible and
true. God called Abram to put his faith
in his word and to see things as God sees them; to adopt a new hope and vision.
And indeed Isaac was born.
As we move to the Gospel, Luke brings us a scene and a similar
challenge that he offered to Abram. To
see as true what one could not imagine.
The transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of his chosen three
disciples, Peter, James, and John, presents a vision of cinematic potential.
Just imagine the brilliant light, two angelic-like figures of Moses and Elijah,
this glittering blinding light from Jesus’ face and his clothing, the cloud
that overshadows and a voice that speaks?
It’s a special effect technicians dream!
Yet, it is no dream; it was a mysterious revelation to fully
conscious disciples who, now awake, “had
been overcome by sleep.” Yet, did they imagine they were dreaming when they
beheld this strange and awesome glory?
But, Luke reminds us that these men
became “fully awake” thereby reminding us this did indeed
happen.
Somewhat startled from sleep, perhaps, Peter blurts out
eagerly: “Master, it is good that we are here.”
And we, so many centuries beyond in our post-resurrection faith, might
think, “Yes, it is Peter. It is good
that we too are here before the glory of Jesus.
But, what you see is something of the future. Though Jesus’ divine nature is now revealed,
soon you will experience tragedy and disillusionment. The cross isn’t far away. Yet, hold on to
this because such glory will come. This is neither a dream nor fantasy. No special effects here. But begin to see things differently. It will be far more than what you see here.”
The ever impulsive Peter is struck silent as the other
disciples are presented as speechless. Luke
tells us they “became frightened” which is not a surprise. Like the experience
of Abram in the desert, Peter and the other disciples are presented with the
future not as a possibility but as a promised reality. They are challenged to begin thinking and
seeing in a new and different way. That is what Lent reminds us to do as well.
While our experiences of the faith are rarely if ever so starling
and unexpected as that mystical moment on the mountain, for Abram and the
disciples it was a life altering experience.
No longer could they possibly go back to what they were or look to the
future without a new hope. But the cross was not far away and through suffering
they will find glory. Isn’t it the same
for us? One day we’re on the mountain in glory and the next we may find ourselves
on the plain. Yet a new vision given us by Christ brings us hope.
In our second reading from Philippians 3 Paul speaks in love to
this early Christian community. He
reminds them to now see things differently than what they saw in their past lives
or in the culture around them.
We can no longer be occupied, Paul states: “with earthly
things.” What we see and experience here cannot be the absolute focus of our
life or where we find our ultimate treasure. We cannot pretend to be followers
of Christ, creating a sort of false religious special effect and still follow
the model of unbelievers. Now, they must see things in a new light: “our
citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ.” God has changed the world in
Christ and proposed a new vision for humanity; the meaning of life goes beyond
what we see here as ultimate glory in Christ awaits us.
For Abram, Paul and his early Christian communities, for the
disciples on the mountain top and for all of us this Lent, it is a season of
new vision. What we profess, the values
and morals we strive to live, and how we view everything from human differences
and suffering; what we hold most valuable and the meaning of death itself is
not always what we see in the world around us.
We are, as we often say, counter-cultural when needed. As we
celebrate the holy Eucharist, like Peter we all should proclaim: “It is good
that we are here” because it is unlike any other gathering.
We come to the mountaintop of the Eucharist to meet the risen
Christ in Word and Sacrament and in the faith we share with one another. In the Mass we listen to the voice of the
Father in his Son. While it may indeed not always feel like higher altitude,
the liturgy has no special effects or illusions created. Here we are called to faith and to bring the
world around us a new vision and hope in Christ Jesus as we descend back to the
plain of our daily lives.
O God, who have commanded us
to listen to your beloved Son,
be pleased, we pray,
to nourish us inwardly by your word,
that, with spiritual sight made pure,
we may rejoice to behold your glory
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
(Collect of Sunday)
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