Sermon, Last Epiphany, Luke 9:28-43

Today is not the Feast of the Transfiguration, yet we always hear a gospel lesson telling of the Transfiguration on this day -- the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. The people who put the lectionary together, both the Episcopal version and the RCL version, selected Transfiguration readings because, when paired with the Epiphany readings, it creates a nice bookend to the season.

On Epiphany, remember, we hear the story of the magi and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This story is reflective of God reaching out to the Gentiles and their recognition of Jesus as Messiah. In other words, it's the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

And now, on this last Sunday after the Epiphany, we have a scene in which Jesus is manifested to the Jews as the Word of God who is above the Law and the Prophets (Moses and Elijah). As the magi perceived Jesus to be of God, the disciples now perceive the glory of God through Jesus.

All of this is helpful as background information for a bible study, but what we should be concerned with is how does this gospel passage speak to us today? What does a story involving a mountain top experience thousands of years ago about the Transfiguration of Christ have to do with us in the here and now? Let's review the story and see how this might be applicable to us today.

Peter, John and James were on the mountain with Jesus and saw him transfigured. They witnessed the presence of the glory of God and had that mountain top experience I just mentioned. They were surrounded by the beauty of the Lord with the two most revered figures in Judaism visible. It's easy to see why, in the middle of that beauty and awe, Peter wanted to stay there.

And who could blame him? Moses and Elijah right there in their presence. The glory of the Lord shining all around and changing the appearance of Jesus' face and bleaching his clothes a heavenly white. Right then they knew that God was in that place. Right then they knew that this was a special place. Right then they knew that it was good for them to be there. Which is exactly what Peter says: "It is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

Have you ever been in such a place?

While he is speaking, a cloud overshadows them and the disciples become terrified. I imagine this cloud not as some white, fluffy summertime cloud, or some lazy mountain mist that rolls in, but as one of those dark, menacing clouds which takes away your vision and sense of direction. And as they are engulfed by the cloud, and in the midst of their terror, a voice says, "This is my son, listen to him."

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a big, black cloud?

Ultimately they go back down the mountain where they mingle with a crowd and Jesus heals a boy possessed with convulsions.

So we ask again, how does this gospel speak to us today? How does a story about a mountain top experience and a healing shed light on our reality in the here and now?

I've preached on the Transfiguration before and one of the ways I truly believe how this story speaks to us today is that it reminds us we must get off the mountain. We must be willing to recognize mountain top experiences for what they are -- beautiful, motivational, moving, awe inspiring, amazing, and not meant to last. At some point we need to come down from the beautiful mountain top and mix and mingle and minister in the crowds.

If we try to hold onto that experience, if we try to stay in that beautiful place, then we run the risk of repeating Peter's words -- "Let's build a place for us to stay right here." Besides this story being yet another way God reveals himself through Christ, this story is about us getting off the mountain. We can't allow ourselves to be so overwhelmed by the beautiful experience that we neglect the true nature of the gospel.

The true nature of the gospel is this: the work of ministry isn't found on the beautiful mountain top but is found down below in and among the people. Had Jesus stayed up on the mountain, there would be no Passion, no cross, and no resurrection. Had the disciples stayed up on the mountain, there would be no apostles and no church. Our mission isn't up there; our mission is out there.

Where are the mountain top experiences in our own lives that keep us stuck in the moment and make it hard for us to come down? What are the beautiful places that continually call us to stay?

These are interesting times for us. Some feel like we are in dark times, like we've been overshadowed by a cloud and we can't see where we are going. We've lost our direction and we are terrified.

For others, these are exciting times. We have seen the glory of God and all the possibilities that brings. We are eager to tell others "down there" about our experiences. And we are looking forward to our own transfiguration as individuals and as a parish into something new and dazzling.

The work of ministry isn't always pretty. The work of ministry isn't always glamorous. The work of ministry doesn't always go as we planned it, but it certainly goes as God plans if we listen to him. Sometimes we do have mountain top experiences, but we can't stay there.

Like Jesus and the disciples, we are close to doing something extraordinary. Like Jesus and the disciples, we need to come down the mountain and into the crowds; because it was by coming down the mountain that the full glory of God was shown. And it was in coming down the mountain that the disciples experienced the resurrection and brought people from all walks of life and many locations into the loving embrace of God.

How does this gospel passage speak to us today? Like this: do we want to stay on the mountain and keep God in a dwelling place of our own making, or will we come down the mountain and be part of something bigger than we ever imagined?