Readings: Ex.24:12-18; Mt. 17:1-9 Transfiguration/A
February 10, 2002
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
"O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory…" (Collect for Transfiguration)
I sometimes work out at the fitness center at DeAnza College. In order to get to the fitness center, I must walk by the swimming pool. In the evenings until about 7:30, there are school children training for swimming competitions. They are required to swim for hours and just when they think they can not move one more muscle from fatigue, the coach will say: "O.K., let me see another 10 laps of butterfly." By the time the practice is over, the children are starving and exhausted. But since these young swimmers are so focused and so committed to athletic competence, they are willing to endure the discipline required to win the prize.
Now DeAnza's swimming practices are nothing compared to what our Olympic athletes must go through in order to compete. Olympians train for years and years, sacrificing almost everything else in their lives in order to come to the Games. What these athletes are able to do with their bodies is almost superhuman. Fifty years ago it was never imagined that the women and men of today's Olympics would be able to perform in the manner in which we will see them perform over the next month.
I admire people of commitment and discipline, especially those whose commitment is sacrificial in nature and serve the wider common good. I admire the men and women who join the Special Forces of the Army or the Navy Seals who train for years and dedicate their lives for difficult assignments in the name of justice. I also admire the "saints" of this world, people who have so oriented their lives towards God such that they are personally transformed and thus become agents of transformation for others. Transformation shows up as a life of sacrifice, commitment, and discipline; the results are profound. When a people are transformed into the "likeness of Christ", it has a significant impact on society. We are better off because of them.
So imagine how different our lives could be; imagine how different this parish, the communities in which we live, and our world could be, if the majority of Christians were to orient themselves towards God and carry on a spiritual discipline equal in time and effort to the young swimmers at DeAnza College! Then imagine what possibilities exist for healing and reconciliation in this broken world if some of those committed Christians were to undertake a spiritual discipline of sacrifice and commitment equal to the efforts of our Olympians!
On this last Sunday in Epiphany, we read the story about Jesus' transfiguration. This story is not just about Jesus. It is also a story about our transformation and what is possible when a person's will is so aligned with God's will. As we become like Christ, a significant change happens. We become a different person and light shines from our being. Let's take a look at today's texts which describe through vivid images and words, the coming of the tangible power of God into the midst of human reality and its transformative power.
In our first reading from the Book of Exodus, Moses has a "mountain top" experience of Divine Presence. Moses has intentionally placed himself in a quiet setting for a very long time in order to discern God's will for him and his people. During this time of quiet, he hears God's voice and experiences the glory of God. The text describes the glory of God as "a devouring fire on top of the mountain." This experience of God transforms Moses' life and gives him strength for the journey. In the gospel story according to St. Matthew, Peter, James, and John, also have a profound experience of God. They have gone with Jesus to a quiet place on a mountain. During this occasion, they hear God's voice telling them to listen to what Jesus has to say and they see Jesus' form completely change such that his face shines like the sun. The Greek word used for this event is "metamorphosis."
This phenomenon of a person being transfigured such that his countenance exudes light is not unique to Jesus but it tends to be limited to very spiritual human beings. The Hebrew Scriptures record an event in which Moses was also transfigured. His face shone so brightly that he had to wear a veil to cover the brightness. The literature from the Far East also records this phenomenon of light and power radiating from spiritual people who have very enlightened consciousness. I have never personally seen this phenomenon but I do know of a man who witnessed such light and power radiating from a person in India. That experience transformed him and as a result, he too became a teacher of love and healing.
Having a profound experience of God can really transform a person. This kind of experience often leads to what the Church calls "conversion". What I mean by conversion is the process where by people are so touched by the power and presence of God in their life, that they dedicate their mind, body, and soul to that relationship and way of walking in the world. Sometimes, conversion is described in terms similar to falling in love. But it is not always the case. Conversion can happen in one moment or it can occur over a longer period of time. There are a lot of ways to articulate one's conversion. Some decide to be baptized. Some dedicate their life to serving the poor or changing the social structures that destroy the creatures of God. Some make a public commitment by declaring Jesus as "Lord and Savior" and thus strive to follow his path in their daily lives. I think that the key criteria for conversion is this: When a truly converted person makes a key decision (such as buying a house, educating the children, taking a job, choosing a mate) he or she first asks: "What does God want me to do" rather than "What do I want to do."
As an Episcopal priest, I have had many folks tell me that they have never had an experience of God and if they have had one, they are not aware of this. As a result, they are often luke-warm in the faith and do not spend the time to develop their spiritual side. Perhaps if they were to take the time to be more quiet, to go on retreat, to read Scripture, to pray diligently, to walk in gratitude, to spend time appreciating the magnificence of creation, perhaps then they would recognize God's presence in their life. Experiencing God is quite natural. But it requires an open heart in all venues of life. When the heart is fully open, God is there.
The mission of the Church is to transform lives. That is why the Church exists. The truth is, the Episcopal Church is not very good at conversion. We do not seem to require much spiritual discipline from our members. I have heard many people describe the our Church as "Catholic Light." Many have come to the Episcopal Church because they don't want a church telling them what to do or pressuring them to undertake a spiritual discipline. Yet many of these same people will enroll their children in sports where the coach requires them to make an enormous commitment of time and energy. They require grueling hours of practice and excommunicate team members from playing a game if they do not show up for a practice. These parents are willing to bring their children to swimming practices every morning and late afternoon, swimming in the middle of winter to the point of exhaustion, all for the purpose of training and disciplining the body. But is not the soul more important than the body? And if it is, then why are we not more committed to purifying and strengthening our soul?
I look out and see a suffering and broken world and it makes me weep inside. Some think that a military solution will make all things better. But I think that it is only when the human heart is filled with compassion for others and we are converted to God's way of walking in this world, that true reconciliation and healing can happen. A human being has a mind, a body, and soul. In order for us to realize our full potential as a person made in the image of God, we must nurture our souls as well as the mind and body. For without a healthy soul, we will remain less than human. May we use this season of Lent to strengthen our souls so that we can become agents of transformation, beacons of light, icons of hope, and messengers of healing.
| Updated 2/11/02 |
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