Grace and Peace to you from God our Creator, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ,
Amen
Epiphany is the season of light. Over the last few weeks, we have explored Jesus’ coming out stories. Jesus declaring to the world, that he is the Messiah. He is the Savior of the World. He is the One called to die for all. He is the one to bring light into darkness. Love into Hate. Hope into Fear. Hope that the world, might see a new dawn. A new dawn beaming with Light. Light, for the World.
Jesus is the Light of the World, and today’s Gospel is God declaring, once and for all, that Jesus is God’s Son, the Chosen One. Flanked on both sides by prophets of old, both Moses and Elijah, Jesus is bathed in light; glowing in God’s presence. The three disciples gathered there to watch, want to hang out. Peter, that old rock… Peter wants to stay, put up tents, and watch the glory that is this time. Jesus is flanked by the superstars of old, and Peter wants to bask in the awesomeness of this moment. This was happening, and this was happening NOW. Peter wants to sink it all in, but God declares to the world that Jesus is God’s son. the Chosen One, and Peter misses out. Peter, James, and John… miss out on this awesome moment to see the Justice League, the Avengers, the X-Men… These superheroes of young and old… just hang out and talk.
What an amazing sight, and God cuts it short. For a fleeting moment, the disciples see the true Light from God, and the prophets of old to guide Jesus on his way… For this Light, is fleeting, and Jesus knows what he has to do. This is the moment, when Jesus comes down from the mountain, into darkness.
Into Darkness. Jesus and the disciples come down off the mountain; away from the overpowering Light from God, into the darkness of their reality. Into the darkness of ministry. Into the messiness, the complicatedness, the nitty-gritty task… of bringing Light into this darkness.
Last week, I preached about the Love of God poured out for all. I preached that there are people both in Jesus’ time and in this reality we call life, that are in the shadows, on the margins of society; whether discriminated against based on their race, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, wealth or whatever… There are, in the shadows, people with whom the society in which we live forgets about.
I told you that these realities are what they are, and even if we are a small town and community in rural Minnesota… They certainly affect us too. I ended last week’s sermon, with a narrative of how our Scandinavian ancestors made their home here, and how we knew this story to be our own, and our heritage. This was our story. But it was not the story of everyone else in this state. That there are those in this state, and even this community, with a different story, and their story, their reality, was equally as valid as ours. That God’s love for them, was equally valid as it is for us.
Jesus and his disciples go down the hill and into the darkness that is real life. Peter wants to hang out on the mountaintop to live in the awesomeness of that moment, but it was fleeting, and it was time to get to work.
So, they enter the town and are greeted by a great crowd, and a father tells them that his boy is sick. His boy is possessed with a spirit, and when the disciples try to help, they are unsuccessful. Jesus yells at his disciples, scolding them for not learning from the mountaintop. Jesus pulls out the spirit, and the boy is saved.
And all were astounded at the greatness of God… Lent is fast upon us. Beginning on Wednesday and continuing on through the Vigil of Easter, the time for reflection and Soup Suppers will be here. The darkness of the season, the storm before the calm, the anticipation of the Gospel of Easter… is fast upon us. Today is the last Sunday of Epiphany, and a literal shift in the seasons of the church. A shift, a change, progression…
We shift our minds from the glory of God, to anticipation of the cross. The remembrance of Jesus walking in the desert for 40 days in a whirlwind of temptation. We shift our minds from Light, into darkness.
Darkness that we know what is coming. Even if the disciples continue over and over throughout the Gospels to ignore the reality that their friend is going to die, we know this to be true. We know, and it is our Christian identity to know that the Savior of the World, the Messiah, the Anointed One, is going to die. We know that during this time of darkness and anticipation, that the eventual end of Lent, is the death of our Savior on the cross. A death, that was like any other for a criminal of his stature. A death on a cross, on yet another hill, to save us all, from ourselves. It is this death, and his eventual resurrection, that is our Christian hope. Our truth. Our light through the darkness. That even though we know that our Messiah dies, we know what comes afterward. We know the Good News.
The Good News that even if death has come, it cannot win the day. Even though the shadow of death is long, that the Light of Christ shines through it.
So, as we look toward Lent, and this time of reflection and anticipation; as we talk about how Jesus was changed, how his ministry shifted into knowing his mission in the world and going out and doing work… I want to ask you a favor.
During this season of Lent, I’m going to put a box outside my office door. I want as many of you, who are able and willing, to ponder this question with me. What is the darkness that you see in our community, in our patch of God’s green… well, snow-covered… Earth. What are the struggles you see this community struggling with, the darkness, the pain, the sorrows… What are the shadows of our reality that you see needing a Light to be shone… What are the realities that you know of, that aren’t being addressed in our community. What are the needs, the desires of the community that you see that are in need of attention?
I’ll let you define your own definition of darkness, but I want Zion to consider, what it is that this community around us, needs? What are we lacking? What are the realities that are missing in this area? What people need welcoming, to be reminded that we are Minnesota Nice. Where can the Light of Christ shine upon this area, to show that all are welcome to bask in the Light? I encourage you to think on these ideas during our Lenten journey together. The first sermon I preach after Easter, I will compile the results, and share with you what Zion has figured out.
Jesus calls us to be transformed, transfigured before God, and to come down off the mountain, and get to work. Get to work showing the Light to the world, so that all may know the warm embrace of God. The Love of God. The Love of God that knows no bounds. Peter wanted to make structures to celebrate the arrival of the prophets. Peter wanted to hangout, in the world of newness and light; in the glory of God.
The People of Zion have done great things in this community. The People of Zion continue to do great things in this community, shining the Light of Christ wherever you go. God calls us to get off the mountain, and get to work. In many ways, we have done amazing work in this community, and even globally. Amazing work. A community is never done growing. We are never done growing. As long as we look forward, with an eye to improving the world around us, to bettering the reign of God around us, so that all might share a seat at the table. As long as we look toward coming down the mountain, and shining the light into the darkness of our world, life will continue to grow. New seeds will be planted. New structures built. Lives changed. Hearts opened to see the glory of God shine through their deepest darkness.
Jesus was up there with Moses and Elijah. With God shining down on God’s Son, God shows us that we are never alone. We are working alongside great people. We are working in a long line of great people. We have our heritage of harrowing stories of survival and prosperity. Our ancestors carved out a living out of this soil, this patch of land we call the United States. We follow in the footsteps of amazing people, and stand on the shoulders of giants. We are never alone. We journey together into Lent with our heads held high, knowing that together, we have done and will continue to do beautiful things.
Amen.
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