Lent 3 A Sermon: Jesus and the Woman at the Well

John 4:5-42

 ^5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ^6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well.    It was about  noon.                                             ^7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” ^8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) ^9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)^{b 10} Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ^11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? ^12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” ^13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ^14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” ^15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”                                     ^16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” ^17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; ^18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” ^19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. ^20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you^c say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” ^21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ^22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. ^23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. ^24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” ^25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” ^26 Jesus said to her, “I am he,^d the one who is speaking to you.”                                                          ^27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” ^28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ^29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah,^e can he?” ^30 They left the city and were on their way to him.                                                             ^31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” ^32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” ^33 So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” ^34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. ^35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. ^36 The reaper is already receiving^f wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. ^37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ ^38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”                                                              ^39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” ^40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. ^41 And many more believed because of his word. ^42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

Conversation:

How many people get along really well with every one within their family?

When I say Woolerton…what is your immediate reaction?

When I say Samaritan…what is your immediate reaction?

When I say Elizabeth Taylor…what do you think of?

Sermon

Isn’t it strange but often people who live in the closest relationship very often have the hardest time agreeing with each other.  Often people within the same families have difficulties with each other… One set of cousins may not associate with another set.  Siblings many have rivalries over numerous things.  Parents and their children may disagree with each other… Sometimes these difficulties cause long-time rifts when families don’t communicate with each other.

Similar rivalries also exist among neighboring communities.  Often they compete with each other…on many levels… In days gone by the competition was very often over sporting events such as hockey in the winter and fast ball or baseball in the summer.  In the days of the original six teams…when there were only two Canadians teams in the NHL… the rivalry between the Maple Leafs and the Canadians was huge.  If we were fans of one of the teams…we could not stand the other…and cheered for any other team except them. 

On a more serious level…communities also compete for public and commercial success…getting the school… attracting new business investors… attracting doctors… getting or keeping their hospital… Larger cities compete over the seat of government or which one will be home to the university.  In Saskatchewan the rivalry between the two largest cities continues over all of these issues.

For the citizens of Dog River the citizens of Woolerton are beneath their consideration.  Even at the mention of the name of the town…every person from Dog River reacts in the same way showing their contempt for the people who live there. 

I know that in the sit-com it is all done for comedic effect… However in real life their reaction contains a certain truth…and it is a similar situation in which Jesus finds himself today.  Actually he finds himself affected by both of the previous examples.  The woman who comes to the well is a Samaritan… Samaritans are the closest neighbors to the Jewish people…and have a lot in common with them.  They live just thirty miles north of Jerusalem.  They pray to the same God to whom we pray and to whom Jesus’ Jewish family prays.  But in the distant past there was a political separation which also caused a theological separation.  As a result the Samaritan refused to go on pilgrimages Jerusalem to the temple.  They built their own places of worship…on a mountain near their community…and they only used the parts of scripture which applied to their time. Samaritans and Jewish people are both close neighbors and are in deed truly relatives.  But for hundreds of years the neighbors and families have not spoken to each other.  Not only have they not spoken but have developed rules against touching each other, eating each other’s food, or drinking from each other’s vessels.  It would be scandalous for members from either community to do anything for or with the other.

It is completely understandable when Jesus asks the Samaritan woman her for a drink…that she is surprised. What is even more surprising for her is how he engages her in a conversation…when he knows what he knows about her.  Jesus knows that she has had five husbands…and at this point she is living with a man to whom she is not married.  During the time of Jesus this was an ultimate disgrace…  Women in these situations were shunned by men and women alike…and no self-respecting person would consider talking with such a person…especially a holy man.

On these two counts Jesus grossly breaks the rules.  He does not conform to the way things are done…regarding Samaritan people and people who have been labeled sinners by their community.  But today Jesus develops a relationship with a person: who is not living according to God’s laws…and who has political and religious differences … By doing this Jesus reveals the true meaning of God’s love for the world.

According to Jesus…God loves the ones who no one else loves…God loves the ones who are despised and shunned by the people who ought care most about them…their neighbors and their families.  Most important God loves all…who have written themselves off and are ashamed of themselves… the ones who because of the circumstances… do not consider themselves worthy of God’s love.  God does not want to condemn them…but God sends the Son that the world might be saved through him. 

Today’s encounter with the woman at the well…is the physical sign of God’s love…for the whole world.  This physical encounter though it is a life changing experience for the Samaritan woman… Because Jesus enters into her life, and talks with her she believes in him.  But the story for her end in believing.  We don’t discover whether circumstances in her life change.  For us the story may seem small and incomplete almost insignificant.  But during this Lenten season we remember that Jesus is making his way to Jerusalem…to the cross… On the cross he dies for all of humanity… There he dies for everyone who has ever sinned… There he dies for everyone who has been shunned or shut out by neighbors and family.  Again most importantly …Jesus dies for everyone who feels unworthy of Jesus’ sacrifice.  Jesus does this willingly without any hesitation… Jesus and his work of salvation is the true definition of God’s love for the world.

The time at the well with Jesus does make one difference in the life of the Samaritan woman and in the life of the town of Sychar.  She responds to Jesus by believing in him… And she becomes an evangelist for Jesus…running to town and telling everyone about him.  They follow her and invite Jesus to stay in their town… and after a few days they too believe.

As the Samaritan woman does…let us also run and tell our neighbors and our families about God’s love.  Let us recount the story about how God wishes only to save… And let us tell about the passion of our Savior Jesus who dies to set us free.  Let tell of the life-giving waters…he offers us always.  Thanks be to Our God.  Amen

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Lent 2 A Sermon: Believing?

John 3:1-17

3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ^2 He came to Jesus^a by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” ^3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”^{b 4} Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” ^5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ^6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.^{c 7} Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You^d must be born from above.’^{e 8} The wind^f blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ^9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ^10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

^11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you^g do not receive our testimony. ^12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ^13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.^{h 14} And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ^15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.^i

^16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

^17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.



Sermon

We hear about miraculous signs of God’s presence in our world.  We have heard about people whom doctors have given up on, and have only months to live… But suddenly they are cured… or they go into remission from diseases such as cancer, or heart disease… and remain in remission for many years.

One mother tells about her son who was deaf in one ear… and had been seen by specialists…and was scheduled for an operation to repair it.  The night before the operation, they both prayed about it.  When he woke the following morning the boy could suddenly hear out of that ear… The doctor was amazed to discover that the boy’s hearing was completely normal.  He saw scare tissue from an old injury… and knew that it should severely impair the boy’s hearing.  Even though this was strange and the doctor had never before seen such a thing…he was completely mystified and had no explanation.  The boy’s mother on the other hand was convinced that God healed her son.

 It is hard for our modern world to accept unexplained miracles… We insist on having scientific proof.  And without proof… we scientific people quickly and quietly sweep the unexplained phenomena out of sight and out of our minds.

 During Biblical times before the advent of the scientific method… people gave God credit for being much more involved in the world.  For them everything… which is hard to explain is something which God does.  The rising and the setting sun are part of God’s miraculous work.  For them… rain clouds, plants, animals are all God’s creation.   For them, miraculous healing, feeding, and changes in the weather are immediately seen as God’s work.  Like us…Biblical people are keen observers of the unexplained… But unlike us… they quickly credit the unexplained to God.

 Today Nicodemus… has noticed and wonders about the marvelous events… which occur when Jesus is presence… Since he is in the God business…the marvels and miracles Jesus does can only come from God… Possibly Nicodemus thinks that it would sure be nice to be able to dial up God’s assistance whenever… and have more control on the predictability of God’s miracles.  Wouldn’t being able to heal the sick…or feeding the hungry at no cost…or in a pinch…making some table wine from water pitchers.  If Jesus was able to do all these things under Nicodemus’ supervision… he would certainly be a welcome addition to the temple staff. 

Nicodemus…goes on a secret night time mission…to enlist Jesus.  Hoping honey will do the trick…Nicodemus begins with flattery saying, “We know that you are a teacher who has come from God, because no one can do these signs apart from God’s presence.” 

 Before Nicodemus can get into what he really comes for… as he did with the devil last week… Jesus stops him in mid-sentence.  By his profession…Nicodemus is sure that he and his Pharisee colleagues are members of the kingdom of God.  He also believes that because he is in the kingdom…God is at his beck and call… doing whatever he asks.  In short he believes that because he is a leader of the Pharisees that God’s purpose is to serve him and the temple.  So he is completely confused by what Jesus says about seeing and entering into God’s kingdom.  There are references about being born again…about wind and the spirit…about seeing and not understanding…and about earthly and heavenly differences.  In the grand total Jesus questions everything that is important to Nicodemus…for who the earthly signs have always shown God’s power.  But he has always tried to figure out ways to harness it for his own purposes.

 Jesus tells us that the physical wonders we see are not about the wonders.  And God’s earthly miracles are not about the miracles.  God does not do them on demand.  God does not do them just to demonstrate God’s power.  

Jesus calls on us to see these earthly signs from God’s perspective.  As Nicodemus believes…the wonders and miracles are physical signs which point to God…and which point to God’s presence among us.  More importantly in addition these earthly signs are God’s way of helping us to believe in God. 

 However, believing in God as such is still not the main thing.  After all, the Pharisees believe in God.  But they want to set the agenda…and want to use God for their own earthly means.  In his debate with Nicodemus… Jesus demonstrates…that we can not just call on God…when we are in need of something… Nor can we treat God like our pet dog… which we command God to roll over or play dead for our amusement. Jesus says; God is not predictable…and may not spring into action at a moments notice…Rather God is like an untamed wind which blows where it chooses, we hear the sound of it, but we do not know where it comes from or where it goes. 

 Rather than just believing in God… for Jesus the signs help us to know what to believe about our God.  True the signs do show us that we have a God to believe in… more importantly they point to the kind of God we have to believe in.  He says our God is a loving God… who more than anything loves us and the whole world… every part of God’s creation.  The signs show us that God’s purpose is for saving not destroying…or condemning.  In fact God does the unthinkable in order to save the world…sacrificing God’s own self to save us and the whole world.  Jesus himself is a physical sign of God’s love and desire for our futures because; “God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” 

 So let us see the signs and believe in God.  Like Abraham and Sarah… let us not be fearful… and follow God into a new life.  Let us believe in and trust in God’s love and desire to save the world.  Like Abraham and Sarah let us share in God’s desire to bless the world.  Let us also share this good news with all people…so they may also see God’s signs… and let us help them to interpret the signs… so they may be blessed.  And may our work be a sign of God’s blessing and invitation for all people to enter into the heavenly kingdom. Thanks be to God. Amen

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Lent 1 A Sermon: Jesus is Tempted

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

^15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. ^16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; ^17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”                           3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” ^2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; ^3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” ^4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; ^5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,^a knowing good and evil.” ^6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. ^7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. 

Matthew 4:1-11 

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ^2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. ^3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ^4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”     ^5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ^6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”                                                     ^7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”                                                                                                                                 ^8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; ^9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ^10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”      ^11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Conversation

In your mind…what does Satan look like?

Is Satan friendly or not?

Is listening to or following Satan easy or hard?

Sermon

Who among us really hates hearing good things said about us?  We love hearing complements… on our special God given talents.  We are eager to show-case these abilities… especially if we have been flattered… or have received praise from someone we respect. 

At our Fall Auction, the prize bakers, the artists, the crafts people all display their skills.  As we watch… we are flattered as bidders scramble bidding to acquire what they want… And when our special creation whether it is coconut cream pie or at painting or a wall hanging we sit up and take special notice…  We hope that the bidders will continue raising the bid on our creation higher and higher…not just to raise money for the church… but also to raise our feelings of pride.

Hockey players, basket ball, and football player spend hours signing autographs for young boys and girls… who clamor to get close and talk to their heroes.  They like to hear their fans praise and compliments.

Even preachers are not immune.  Even they like to hear praise about how they conduct services…or the message they deliver.  When their message has struck a cord and touched someone…and they are complimented like anyone we like it.

Yes, we all like receiving complements… and like hearing good things said about us.    

Besides hearing about how good we are…we also want to hear how special we are to certain people.  When we observe young children we can often hear ourselves saying; “She sure is mommy’s little girl…or he sure is a chip off the old block.”  It is a compliment for a parent seeing their son or daughter…doing well or following in their footsteps… While many say that they don’t want their children to go through similar struggles… farmers are proud when their sons or daughters take over the farm.  Doctors, nurses and teachers are contented when their daughters or sons… pursue the similar vocations.  Similarly parents are also proud when their children pursue advanced education and acquire prestigious positions after graduation… Another compliment for parents is when their children follow their footsteps… when grandchild begin coming.  There are various things, which cause parents to be pleased about their children. 

Many of us don’t like showing our pleasure and love for our children too openly.  We wouldn’t want it to go to their heads.  So too often the best part of our love and pleasure is missed.  We don’t tell them our children enough… how pleased we are…or how much we love them.  Today God demonstrates how we ought to show how we truly feel…when we are pleased with our children. After he is baptized and is coming up out of the water…the sky opens…the Spirit of God comes down on Jesus…and a voice from heaven says; “This is my Son… the beloved… and I am pleased with him.”  It can’t get much better than…to hear those words; “That’s my boy…isn’t he something special?”

However, when we are in the midst of the joy of hearing our praises…at the instant …when those whom we look up to tell us we are special and that they are pleased with us…that is the moment when we are most vulnerable to temptation.  At that instant we believe that we cannot do any wrong which would displease them.  When we are feeling most pleased…that is the moment in which Satan the crafty one… sees an opportunity to win.  Satan’s approach is appealing and friendly… in full agreement with how we are feeling…and Satan uses our feelings of love and pleasure to get our attention. 

Today we see Satan’s work in two Bible stories.  The first is in the Garden of Eden…at the moment when Adam and Eve have a very close relationship with God… Satan approaches asking them a very friendly question; “Are there any limits between you and God?”  The answer comes; “There are no limits… Well just a little one. We can’t eat of the one tree or we will die.”  Then with Adam and Eve are fully engaged in the conversation Satan plants a little seed of doubt…and also a little seed of desire.  “Did God say you would die?  Not that.  Your eyes will be open and you will be like God.”  That can’t be bad can it?  The hook is set and Adam and Eve are lost.

In a similar fashion a moment after the heavens open and Jesus hears the wonderful news spoken by the voice from heaven… the devil appears hoping to take advantage of his feelings of pleasure.  The devil uses flattery and friendship.  I can even see him in a friendly gesture put both hands on Jesus’ shoulder look him in the eye…smiling and saying; “You are the Son of God, so you have the God given ability to feed yourself.  Why don’t you change these stones into bread?”

Then the devil uses the Father loves you card… “I heard your Father say that you are the beloved Son… “If you are the Son of God, the beloved…let God show you how much.  Jump off this steeple and let God prove it by sending angels to save you.”

Finally…the devil offers Jesus the opportunity and power to have complete control of the world.  In this offer… Jesus could do wonderful things…it is a great opportunity to do good.  As we watch what is happening in Libya, Japan, and other parts of the world…this sort of offer is sure appealing to us.  It would be wonderful to have control and make the world what it should be.  Only…in this offer…Jesus must first pay the devil for the privilege…and bow down.

        We have been taught that temptation is part of a colossal battle between good and evil.  In this view of the world…it is easy to distinguish to two… Evil and the devil are very obvious and sinister foes.  But in both stories for today… the devil enters when we are feeling good…making us great offers…  The devil looks like a very good friend. 

        Today we have gathered to witness and celebrate the baptisms of three young people.  With all of us here… they have heard that they are loved children of our God.  We have heard that through their whole life’s journey…no matter where it leads…God will journey with them.  God will never forget them and will never forsake them.  From our own experiences we know that temptation will come their way…  And again we know from our own experiences that some times they will do the things they should not do…and will feel really bad about it…  This is the time when God is most ready to forgive…

        How do we know that God is ready to forgive?  We know this through the story of Jesus.  Jesus the Son of God came into the world and became like us.  Here he learns what it means to be a human person…he learns the joys and the sorrows.  He learns contentment and persecution.  When God’s voice is heard from heaven saying; “This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”  Jesus is just getting started.  He is on his way to Jerusalem.  There he dies for the world bringing God’s free offer of forgiveness to us all.  Thanks be to our loving and forgiving God.  Amen.

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Transfiguration A Sermon

Exodus 24:12-18

Matthew 17:1-9

17 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ^2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. ^3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ^4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I^a will make three dwellings^bhere, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ^5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved;^c with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” ^6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ^7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” ^8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

^9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Time for Young Minds

I have some pictures of mountains to show you.

Do you notice anything else about the pictures?

Has anyone stood on top of a mountain looking out?

Is it easier going up or coming down?

Sermon

Let us begin with two phrases from today’s gospel.

Six days later and Suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them and from the cloud a voice said.

        Considering what we have said and done during this last six days…I wonder how we would feel if a cloud suddenly filled the church and the voice of God began speaking with us.  Would hearing God’s voice make us happy and glad… because God is speaking to us?  Would hearing it make us angry and mad… because we didn’t receive an answer when we prayed for something truly important?  Or would hearing it make us afraid because of the things we have done or not done?  Or would hearing the voice of God at this moment bring a little or even a lot of fear into our hearts?  Would we worry that we have finally tested God’s patience once too often.

  We wish that we could be like Moses or Elijah of the Bible…who easily listened and talked with God often.  They had real back and forth conversations with God… Sometimes they boldly questioned God…sometimes they argued with God disputing and questioning what God asked them to do.  Sometimes they negotiated with God hoping God would have a mind change.  In short it seemed that the Old Testament people were not intimidated by God’s presence…instead they seemed very comfortable with God’s closeness. 

It would be wonderful to have a similar relationship with God… We would like to be at ease and comfortable with God’s presence.  We talk about it, we sing about it, we wish for it…we pray for it…we could possibly even imagine it.  But when it come right down to it… if at this very moment God’s voice should be heard… speaking directly to us… we would probably…like the disciples of the gospel…be overcome by fear.  We fear that God will come at the moment we are farthest from being ready…at the moment we have used bad language…at the moment we have hurt someone verbally or physically … at the moment we have grumbled words against God or our neighbor… We don’t mind hearing stories about God having conversations with other people…we’re just not ready for God to start a conversation with us.

Sometimes we are tempted to excuse ourselves for not being ready.  We compare ourselves to the disciples…  If they… the holy chosen people are not ready and are afraid of the voice of God…it is much harder for us ordinary people.  During the past six days…a lot has been happening for us and we haven’t had the privilege of Jesus’ physical presence to guide us and direct us like the disciples had each day. 

But the disciples are not unlike us at all…  Just like we have had experiences during these last six days… they too have had an real experience six days earlier.  In some ways it has similarities to this day’s climb to the top of the mountain… As brightness shines on Jesus today…six days earlier Jesus is reveal as more than just a friend and teacher… Six days earlier Peter declares with confidence that Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God.  He is at the top of the world with the praise that Jesus showers on him.

But moments later…when Jesus begins talking about his road to the cross…Peter argues that this is not possible.  And the voice of Jesus is raised angrily scolding him saying; “Get behind me Satan!”  Now here we are six days later again at what seems like a high point for Peter.  And again he speaks when he should be listening.  Again he has his own plan for how things should go.  And again he is surprised by a voice.  Suddenly out of a cloud the voice of God speaks directly to Peter saying; “This is my Son, the beloved, with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 

It is not too difficult to imagine how Peter must feel to again hear a voice of authority…this time coming from a cloud.  People from his time and place…associated clouds with the presence of God.  For forty years in a cloud God led the Hebrew people from Egypt…through the desert…and finally into the Promised Land.  God spoke with Moses from a cloud and on top of a mountain… There he received the 10 Commandments…there God made a covenant with Moses that they would always be God’s people… and that God would always remember them.  It is hard to imagine what it must have felt like for Moses…on that mountain listening and talking directly to God… He must have truly felt on top of the world…life just could not be much better than that.  After his meeting with God the face of Moses…is so bright that a veil is needed so people can look at him.

But even for Moses who has such a close relationship with God…he can’t stay up on that mountain.  Jesus and the disciples also are not able to stay up on the mountain.  On his way down…Moses discovers that the people do not have the same closeness to God.  And he spends forty years listening to one complaint after the other as they wander through the wilderness.  Jesus and his disciples come down from the mountain…and continue on the road to Jerusalem … as he proceeds Jesus is constantly questioned and criticized by religious leaders…and ultimately they successfully call for his crucifixion.

Today we can’t help but think of the people in the countries of Tunisia and Egypt.  They have stood on the top of the mountain…Their voices have been heard… They have called for democratic reforms…and have succeeded in toppling brutal and corrupt dictators…who have left the country.  But now they have to come down off the mountain to learn… democracy does not just happen because it is demanded …The inequalities that kept their dictators in power for all of these years has not magically disappeared.  The hard work of negotiating and drawing up new constitutions…electing new leaders…and establishing new law enforcement agencies will take a significant amount of time.  This week the news of these difficult efforts…and of people returning to the streets has been obscured by the more sensational news out of Libya.  These people are learning that mountain tops are immediately adjacent to deep valleys.

So it is similar for us today…we are celebrating Transfiguration Sunday.  On this day we celebrate again that Jesus is truly special…he is the Beloved Son of God…he is God of the patriarchs Moses and Elijah…and he is Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior.  But Transfiguration Sunday also begins and new season in the church…called the Season of Lent…which concludes on Good Friday… the day we remember the death of Jesus.  As we enter this six week journey…we are called to reflect on our relationship with God.   We are asked to view the world through the eyes of our God…trying to imagine what God wants.  We are asked to imagine all people of the world… as children of our heavenly Father and as our true friends.

During this season of Lent we are asked to consider the sacrifice Jesus the Son of God make to free us from our fears and our sins… to free us to be workers in God’s Kingdom…and to proclaim the Good News of this for the whole world. 

Let us always remember and let always respond to what we have learned about the goodness which we know come from our God in his beloved Son Jesus the Christ.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

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