Readings: Exodus
34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36
We pray:
May the God’s word
speak to us, may the Spirit open our hearts and Christ guide us in the
way. Amen
Moses, the shining
glory of God and the veil. It could be
the title of a bestselling mystery novel, couldn’t it, designed to intrigue and
to mystify – as all good mysteries should do.
And to be
perfectly honest the reading of the story is somewhat mysterious. We have Moses down from the mountain, the two
tablets of the covenant in his hand, ready to share God’s glory, God’s word
with the people but totally unaware that his transformation shines out through
his face, blinding and scaring those around him. And when they hang back - he beckons them to
come near, speaks of his encounter with God, then and only then covers his face
with a veil - which he takes off each time he goes to speak with the Lord. It strikes me that there were some
interesting analogies in this story around how we meet and respond to the glory
of God. For I think it’s fair to say that
we tread lightly around ‘glory’ theology these days, somewhat ambivalent about
how that fits in with the humility and self-denial that is emphasised in the
theology of the cross – where love is the sacrifice for the sins of all.
What is one to
make of the brightness of God in this text from Hebrew Scriptures and in the
Gospel reading of the Transfiguration?
Well for a start -
it was scary! Scary to the people of the
Exodus, scary to the disciples on the mountain top, scary too to the Bethlehem shepherds
when they were faced with the glory of God.
A powerful moment, terrifying in its beauty, a beauty that disconcerts
and confuses and renders otherwise sensible people senseless. Why? Is it a threat – behave or this is what I can
do! Or is there something more?
Maybe these are
the moments that strip us down, silence our religious chatter and force us to
remember that we are on holy ground, in the presence of the God who is
glorious, more beautiful and loving and intricately part of this life than we
can imagine.
Can you take a
moment to think of these glory moments in your experiences? The times when you felt
the touch of the God who is more profoundly part of you than your ordinary
moments would ever allow. These moment
are renewing, humbling, embracing, full of light and power, they are God
moments. They are the moments that strengthen
you as you walk in the valley of the shadows, that allow you to minister in the
midst of doubt and overwhelming odds, that bring the splendour of God into the ordinary and routine.
This reading is also
a reminder to us that we are to reflect this same glory – as people proclaiming
God’s word we, like Moses, are to have the light shining from our faces. I don’t
mean the fixed grin of fanaticism or the determinedly cheerful smile of duty
but rather the light that shines from within.
I suspect many of you would recognise
one or many in your circle of church, family and friends of whom you could say –
their face shines out with love and compassion and surety of some transformation
in their lives? I think of one person I know and just seeing her never ceases
to remind me of the beauty of the presence of God in her life. Too often we hide the joy of our faith under
the cloak of modesty and humility (and dare I say decency and good order) – and
by doing so we restrict and contain the holy mystery of God and our witness to
that glory.
Now this is not a
call to dance ecstatically through Opoho streets (although if that be your wish
who am I to stop you) but it is a reminder, shall we say, to allow the good
news of Jesus Christ to be reflected in who we are and how we are perceived and
received by others. I remember once in a
church in Christchurch preaching on the theme of joy: that Christ in our lives
and our world is good news which we should celebrate and share – and then,
confident that I had got the message across introduced the next hymn – ‘To God
be the Glory’ and what did we get? Toooo
Goooood beee theee gloooooory.....
Awful!
But the glory of
God is not just about our feeling good and letting others see it – that is too
simplistic, too restrictive. The glory
of God brings us directly to the disturbing events of Easter – the humility and
pain of betrayal on the cross making Easter morning almost unbearably bright
for all of us: rendering us speechless and awestruck by a God whose love is so
great as to dispel even death.
Jesus, transfigured,
changed forever in the power of God, came down from the mountain to fulfil the promise of a gloriously
loving God – to set his feet on the path to Jerusalem, to the cross and to the transforming
moment of resurrection and new life.
A church in the
US, aptly called Transfiguration Lutheran Church, kept its doors shut to the
struggles in the community around, preferring the rarefied atmosphere of exclusivity,
but then, in a transfiguring moment, they
too came down from the mountain, threw open the doors, stepped into the
neighbourhood and cared for all in the midst of the pain and hunger, healing
themselves as well.
A people, having
crept closer to hear what God had to say to them, were transformed by the light
of the one sent to bring the Good News and went out to be that light to all who
lived in darkness
So – be astounded
by the glory of God, be thrown off your foundations occasionally, be blinded by
the light, – so that you too might go
and do likewise. Amen
Margaret Garland
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