February 3, 2008

Exodus 24:12-18

The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”

So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 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.”

2 Peter 1:16-21

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Three Scriptures -- all talking about true mountain top experiences. First, Moses, when he received the Laws -- not just the 10 commandments -- and then the time when Jesus allowed his disciples to see him as he was physically and spiritually transformed and changed, taking on the holiness of God. Peter later confirms that vision on the mountain as a true event.

But what about us, still down here in the valley? What meaning does all of this have for us? Does it serve to put distance between Jesus and ourselves? Does it point out the differences between us, so that we know how bad off we really are? What does this experience of Jesus tell us?

Here we are, in the middle of winter, experiencing the seasonal affectional disorder, worried more about keeping warm and healthy than anything else. We grow tired of the presidential campaign, knowing that we have 9 months of it left. We listen to the newscasts of bombings, and killing rampages -- There is no mountaintop experience for us!

Or is it? One very positive spin on the negative news is that we can see very plainly the results of life without God. Even something horrific can serve to open our eyes to what it is like when we do NOT follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Right now, many people look at the world around them and grow discouraged and end up in despair. That is the very thing that those who perpetrate the evil want us feel. They do not want us to listen to God’s voice from on high telling us to listen to Jesus and to follow his example. They do not want us realizing that this mountain top experience of Jesus was there for us to strive for, also. They do not want us to know God’s presence with us even in the times which we call “Horrible” and “Devastating” -- Or, at least they want us to be sure we REALLY know God -- not just know ABOUT Him! By making it difficult for us to keep our eyes focused on God, they are, in effect, training us to be stronger in our faith. Trusting in God to guide you in life is not something you do two or three times a month, and then settle for your own blind guesses for the rest of the month... You have to practice allowing God’s light into your life -- practice it until it is continuous. As Peter put it, “You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. “ -- not just a lamp, lighting your path for a few feet, but a star that gives light to everything out to your horizon and beyond. For nothing will be hidden from the one who has God’s light in their heart.

That’s what the stories from scripture are telling us today -- to be aware that the evil and problems in our lives are not there to discourage us, but to remind us to turn toward God even more every day, and to practice allowing God to guide us in our lives..