Lord of the Mountaintop, a Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday

Safiyah Fosua has written A Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday that is included with other worship material on the UMC page.

Voice from the Cloud, a Reflection on Luke 9:34-36

Peter and the others witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus. They were there when Moses and Elijah suddenly appeared, these two figures so important in the history of their people, of the formation and molding of their faith.

Just as Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, "Let's make three dwellings--one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah. We suspect that Peter wanted to hold on to the moment so that they could revisit the experience. Or, we can suppose that he wanted to mark the place so that others coming after them could see where this event had happened.

While he was still speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them, terrifying them. They had been able to see Jesus in a new way. They had been able to see Moses who had led the people to the Promised Land, and Elijah who had spoke the words of the Lord to the people facing exile. Now they could see no longer.

In their Preaching the Gospel, Allen & Williamson point out that a cloud is

a traditional Jewish way of representing the divine presence (see e.g., Exodus 13:21; 16:10; 19:9; 24:15-18; 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 18:44-45; Ezekiel 10:3-4; Psalm 18:11).

This loss of vision terrifies them. Then from the cloud comes a voice.

They could see things that no one had seen before. They could see nothing. Then they learn more.

A voice comes from the cloud announcing "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"

Luke tells us that they didn't immediately tell anyone what had happened.

On a Mountain, a Reflection on Luke 9:28-33

The season of Epiphany begins with the visit of the Magi to pay homage to the newborn Jesus. The last Sunday in Epiphany for many churches is Transfiguration Day (although some recognize the Transfiguration on the second Sunday in Lent), marking the startling change in the appearance of Jesus.

They are on a mountain. Jesus has come to pray. He has brought Peter and John and James with him.

[I had intended to, but didn't get around to, doing a search on mountain experiences in the Old Testament and Jesus' praying in the New, and which events in Jesus' life included the presence of those three particular disciples.]

While he is praying, his appearance changes and his clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah become present.

The disciples although they were weighed down by sleep have stayed awake and witness this.

Ronald Allen & Williamson write in their Preaching the Gospels without Blaming the Jews:

Jewish apocalyptic writers anticipated that in the final manifestation of the reign of God, persons would have transformed bodies in the luminescent white of the heavenly world (e.g., Daniel 10:6; 1 Enoch 62:15-16; 2Enoch 22:8; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49; Revelation 4:4; 7:9).

Moses and Elijah are talking to Jesus about his departure. Allen & Williamson point out that the Greek word for departure is exodos emphasizing that what is going to happen at Jerusalem will also be a way of liberating God's people.

Why we proclaim, a Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:9-11

Corinth was a city that had been destroyed then rebuilt by the Romans. In Paul's time, it .was a thriving port city strategically located with ports on the Aegean and on the western gulf leading to the Adriatic. Like other formerly Greek cities, many gods had been worshiped.

The church founded there by Paul, Silas, and Timothy had, at first, been a vital Christian congregation, but, by the time of this letter, the Corinthians had been visited by and impressed with followers of Simon Peter (spiritual phenomena) and Apollos (wisdom).

(The above information is abstracted from the excellent The People's New Testament Commentaryy by M. Eugene Boring & Fred B. Craddock.)

I'm struck by Paul's rhetorical strategy. He writes to rich people stressing his being least and unfit. His doing what he is capable of doing is due to the grace of God. Yet, Paul did not leave the gift stored on a shelf of some closet. He worked hard--harder than the other apostles (is this a dig at Peter's followers?)

He worked hard, but he attributes God's grace for the ability to do the work--or, should I read this as God's grace for the ability to want to do the work?

Now, back to us. We have had the opportunity of good, faithful teaching by hard-working teachers who were filled with grace and able to demonstrate that grace to us. And we have been faced with not-so-faithful, not-so-grace-filled teachings and examples. Let us hold firm to the good news proclaimed through Paul. Let us come to believe--and act as if we did. Let God's grace to us not be in vain.

Reminders, a Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

First, the lectionary jumps from chapter 13 in 1 Corinthians 13 last week to 15 this week. Go ahead and read chapter 14 anyway. However, some of it is troubling enough to help me understand why it's not included in the lectionary.

Now, back to this week.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 is also the reading for Easter Year B.

Paul reminds the Corinthians the message he terms of first importance: Christ died, was buried, was raised, and appeared to witnesses including Paul himself.

Paul has received this gospel and is passing it on to the Corinthians. His knowledge is based on experience and scripture.

And, now, here we are. What we know about Christ is also based on what we are told--both by long-ago witnesses as well as those in our own times. We hear them recount the good news. We read our Bibles. And we hold firmly to the message that is being proclaimed.

Sidelines: Apparently Paul was not aware of the traditions underlying the Gospel reports of the appearances of Christ to the women at the empty tomb. He includes that the death for our sins and the being raised on the third day was in accordance with the scriptures. That is, to Paul, the death and resurrection of Christ are not a repudiation of Judaism.

Praise, Trust, and Gratitude, a Reflection on Psalm 138

I'm looking for the reason that the lectionary response to the passage from Isaiah is this psalm. Isaiah focuses on his call--or did it? After all, Isaiah does express his vision of the appearance of the Lord, along with those hexalar (I just made up this word) seraphs.


And, of course, that vision was in the temple. And in Psalm 138, the psalmist (David?) is in the temple.

There he praises God. "You were there for me when I needed you. All the powerful people will praise you and recognize how powerful you are."

But the powerful are not the only ones to notice God. The psalmist continues, "Although you are high above us, you still pay attention to the lowly."

The Lord protects those in danger, and the Lord is the one to settle accounts. Yet, we don't sit idly by. We are supposed to participate in God's work.

The ending verse is a good model prayer for us: O Lord, Your steadfast love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.

And we need to do some work. We still have low points--emotional and economic. We still have enemies--literal and metaphoric. And we still need to remember to praise the Lord for our deliverance and our support.

Reflection on Isaiah 6:9-13

Isaiah in verse 6 responds to the call of the Lord, "Here am I; send me." He has felt lost, unclean; yet, the vision of the Lord, the actions of the seraphs, have empowered (?) him to do what the Lord wants him to do.

Since the lectionary has paired this with the lesson from Luke in which the fisherman go out into the deep water even though they think it's pointless. They go not because they think the effort will be productive but because Jesus has told them, too. And it was successful. They caught so many fish that it almost swamped their boats.

Following Jesus' command even with doubt was the right thing to do.

How are we supposed to read this passage from Isaiah. He had doubts but accepted the call. Was he successful?

The Lord told Isaiah what to say, "Keep listening, but don't understand what you hear" and what to do, "Confuse them so that they won't comprehend what is needed for them to do."

Historically, the nation was invaded by the enemy after this. Was that what God intended for them? Or, was this part considered necessary as an explanation for Israel's defeat? Or, was Israel's defeat necessary in order for them to turn away from their own sinful ways and once again look to God's teaching?

Whichever explanation we choose, we can still find comfort in the next words that the Lord gives Isaiah: "Even after destruction and devastation, a seed remains." That is, hope blooms even in the worst times. Even a small remnant can have great results.

Reflection on Isaiah 6:1-8

Repeat from Wednesday, June 3, 2009:
An unclean prophet, a Reflection on Isaiah 6:1-8
Verses 1-4 describe an overwhelming sense of God's glory and the appropriate response to it. On a throne. A high and lofty throne. So large that just the hem of his robe fills the temple. Heavenly beings attend him. They sing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts."

Verses 5, in contrast, describes the great contrast with this glory with the human condition. Isaiah realizes that he is unworthy.

Verses 6-7 give us reassurance. Since we are not worthy, God has a way of redeeming us, of overcoming our sin. Isaiah's guilt was removed.

Verse 8 reminds us why we need this redemption. We have a task. Isaiah accepted his call.

(much of this from or inspired by Isaiah 1-39, by Walter Brueggeman)

How much of this is repeated in a typical church service? Do we recognize an overwhelming divine presence? Do we recognize our own sinfulness? Can we receive redemption? If so, what are we prepared to do with it?

Response to success, a Reflection on Luke 5:6-11

Simon obeyed Jesus. He took Jesus out in his boat so he could preach. Despite his disbelief that it would do any good, he tried fishing.

They caught so many fish that their nets almost broke. They caught so many fish that their boats began to sink.

The great result when he had expected nothing frightens Simon. He begs Jesus to leave him alone, that he is not worthy to be with him.

Jesus disagrees.

He can provide fish where professional fishermen can't find them. He tells Simon and his partners, James and John, that now they will be fishing not for fish but for people.

They walk away from their boats--their livelihood, their regular lives, and follow Jesus.

Further note: the first hearers of Luke's gospel may have been familiar with Ezekiel 47:1-10. We should be, too. A steam of water from the temple gushes like a river, like deep water. In this sea, the water will become wholesome. Every living creature will be able to live wherever this stream goes. Te fish will be abundant.

Obedience of Simon, a Reflection on Luke 5:1-6

The lectionary has skipped from the story of the negative reaction by the religious leadership to Jesus' sermon reminding them of God's care for outsiders. After his escape in Nazareth, he traveled, healing and, despite the earlier negative reaction, preaching in synagogues.

Response was positive. Many people came out to see him.

So many people that he needed help in order to continue to carry out his work.

He asked Simon, (whose mother-in-law had been one of the persons he had healed) to take him out in the boat a little way from shore so he could speak to that crowd that had gathered.

One lesson--Jesus needs us to help him do his work.

After he had finished speaking, and they were still in the boat out in the lake, Jesus told Simon, "Take the boat out to the deep water so you can go back to fishing"

Peter said that he could and would move the boat but that the fish weren't biting that day.

Another lesson--even people who have witnessed miracles up close don't always believe that Jesus can help them with their current need.

Related lesson--even people who don't believe at a particular moment can still follow the commands of Jesus.