February 19, 2023 - Transfiguration on the Ground
Matthew 17:1-13
Deborah Laforet
Transfiguration on the Ground
Let us pray. May the words from my lips and the meditations of my heart be guided by your Spirit and be words of wisdom for this day. Amen.
Took a walk outside of my walking.
Step’d inside another’s shoes.
Walk’d the dusty borders between us,
Paths I’d never chosen to choose.
Chorus:
How then shall I live?
How then shall I live?
How then shall I live, O God?
How then shall I live?
This song, by Linnea Good, a Canadian faith musician, became prevalent for me during a trip to Guatemala. In November of 2006, as part of my final year of studies to be a minister, our class visited Guatemala. Mostly we visited Mayan communities that had connections with the United Church, and learned about the powerful programs being led by indigenous women in Guatemala.
For many of us, this was the first time we visited a part of the world that had been exploited by European and North American countries. It was a glimpse at how colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism affected those who did not benefit from it, like settler people in Canada and the US. It was a mountaintop moment for many of us, where our eyes were opened, where we viewed beautiful landscapes, smoking volcanoes, poinsettia plants growing wild, natural hot springs, and the strength, courage, faith, and hope of the Mayan people in Guatemala. The song that rang in our ears, that we referenced several times, was this song by Linnea Good.
Heard a sound outside of my list’ning,
Felt the living hum of the ground.
Waited on the voice of the spirit,
Singing with its new old sound.
Chorus
The question after spending this time in Guatemala was how then do we live differently when we return to our homes in Canada. Many times, people return home from experiences like these with no affects to their life. It becomes an experience one once had but doesn’t really impact their daily life. Sometimes a few will come home and feel they have no choice but to live differently, and their experiences will slowly change their lives, causing transformation. Honestly, for me, it was a great learning experience, and when I came home I shared my experiences and stories with others, but I’m not sure how it changed my life.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that mountaintop experiences are amazing and wonderful and impactful moments in our lives, but they don’t always create transformation. I believe the biggest transformations occur in the mundane, everyday lived experiences of our lives, and especially those times in the valley, when life is hard and every day is a struggle.
Often with this story of the transfiguration of Jesus, we focus on mountaintop experiences. This is a miraculous event in our gospels, and it’s a story that leads to wonder and awe. They see Jesus become bright and dazzling, and then they see Moses and Elijah (I’m not sure how they knew who they were, but they just seemed to know). Moses and Elijah are two instrumental figures in the Jewish faith, and both had extraordinary endings. Moses was buried in an unknown location by God, and Elijah wasn’t buried at all, but on his last day swept away in a heavenly chariot.
Just as Peter commits to creating a monument on this location to this most sacred event, they hear God’s voice. Again, as at the baptism of Jesus, God says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased.” They also hear God say, “Listen to him!”
I mean, what a moment! Wow! And all three witness this, so it’s not like one just made it up or imagined it. These are the kinds of moments that change lives, right? Well…..
Saw the world outside of my looking.
Gazed upon the eyes of its soul.
Held the hopes and fears of tomorrow.
Found the pieces making the whole.
Chorus
If this was the only experience Peter and the other disciples had had with Jesus, it would not have changed their lives. Peter probably would have built a monument and went on with his life. In fact, we hear in the gospels that Peter keeps making mistakes, that the disciples keep blundering and misunderstanding what is happening. In the previous chapter, Jesus tells the disciples that he will suffer and die soon, and Peter tells Jesus not to say such things and that this could never happen. Jesus then says to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” and calls him a stumbling block.
I don't think the disciples really get it until Jesus is arrested, tried, suffers, and is killed. I don’t think they really get it until Jesus’ body goes missing and they begin to experience this transformed and resurrected Christ. Only then, do they begin to strike out on their own. Only then do they hear God’s call to them. Only then do they preach and heal and share the teachings of Jesus with others. Only then do they begin to live their lives in new ways, Christ-filled, and transformed by their experience with Jesus over the past three years. Only then, do they begin to know how they shall live.
Took a step outside of my walking,
Found within a beat that we share.
Walk’d with you the length of a lifetime,
made of Life a living prayer.
Chorus
Our mission statement here at St. Paul’s is to connect, engage, and transform. The transforming take times. It takes lots of connecting and lots of engaging, and even if we don’t cause transformation in others, we know that we will be transformed. Through our transformation, and our continued connections and engagement, like the disciples of Jesus and the many followers since then, we will help to transform this world, transform this coming kingdom of which Jesus proclaimed, a kingdom like heaven on earth.
Mountaintop experiences are important and can be life-changing, but transformation happens in our day to day experiences, which makes them so important. Asking ourselves, all the time, how then shall I live, becomes a powerful tool as we seek to transform our world. Let’s sing together, one last time, the chorus of this song.
How then shall I live?
How then shall I live?
How then shall I live, O God?
How then shall I live?
May it be so. Amen.