Transfiguration: Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36
February 14, 2010
The name of the mountain is unknown where the appearance of Jesus was transfigured one day and Moses and Elijah appeared with him. But it was a very radical and revolutionary change that begins to take shape on that mountaintop. Moses and Elijah were predecessors who helped prepare the way for Jesus, but now he supercedes them. It's not that they were wrong, but that their glory was partial and imperfect while the glory revealed through Jesus of Nazareth is complete and perfect. "This is my son, my chosen," the voice from above says, " Listen to him!"
Sherman UMC has been "listening to Jesus" ever since it organized itself as a new church 158 years ago in 1852. It was born in the days when Lincoln was riding through here on horseback. During its history many pastors and members have come and gone. It has sent sons and daughters off to war several times, weathered through multiple recessions, a great depression, narrowly missed another one and physically changed its location twice from its original site. Through all the ups and downs, joys and sorrows SUMC has gained wisdom and strength to make new disciples by "listening to Jesus."
Here are some examples of how we are currently listening to Jesus as a church. In recent weeks the congregational care team has been reborn and is organizing ways in which we can care for one another in the spirit of Jesus who said: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
Some of the needs that they are working on are: sitting with an ailing family member, providing transportation to a medical appointment, doing small household repairs, providing meals at home after a hospital stay and more. There is a note in the bulletin this morning about this and you will be hearing more in coming weeks on how we can care for one another as a church family.
The United Methodist Women have been listening too. They will be starting a Sunday afternoon fellowship time for those who cannot come out at night to attend the UMW meetings.
The Administrative Council "listened" to recommendations this week and then approved the distribution of $6000 from the fall chicken supper to mission projects: Asbury Children Supper Hour in Springfield, Helen Sheperd: UM missionary to Mongolia; the Liberian UMC; Central Illinois Food Bank based in Springfield; the Mission Distribution Center in Chatham; UMCOR emergency relief; and the SUMC youth program.
The Long Range Planning Team has studied the words of the "Great Commission" and how SUMC can continue to be effective in 'making disciples of Jesus and teaching all that he commanded' over the next generation and beyond. You have the announcement in your bulletins this morning about the congregational meeting on Feb. 28 where everyone is invited to come and learn more about their building recommendations and the reasons for them.
And as a worshipping community of faith each week, in Sunday School classes, prayer circles, bible studies, youth program, and the weekday ministries of Kids Place and Preschool, SUMC is 'listening to Jesus' to understand the mission to which we are called as a church. Hopefully when another 158 years have passed, SUMC will still be here fulfilling that same mission which gave it birth and from which we have all received.
Listening to Jesus conscientiously is the life blood of a vital church. But it all begins by listening in a personal way. What does Jesus have to say that can help us be happier and more at peace with ourselves? What does he say to help our marriage work better and have better relationships with friends as well as family? What does he say to help us live more fully with a greater sense of purpose? What does he say to help us when we are down in the dumps?
There is a hunger inside of all of us that drives us to worship. As mortal beings we have an innate desire to be connected to something bigger, someone who knows more, is more powerful and can make us whole, complete and at peace. We give the name "God" to the one we need to worship. But who is this God? How can we know this GOD? How do we know we are connected to the real God and not to something or someone who is less than God?
For Christians we understand God through Jesus Christ. This is why worship is vital. Each time we come we remind ourselves about who is Number One. If we don't remind ourselves of this regularly we become easy preys to all the idols and half-truths so widely available in the market place today. There are so many voices begging for attention that it is easy to be distracted from the One who has the "words" of eternal life.
It is not easy to listen to Jesus even for those like us who count ourselves as his followers. Jesus said: "turn the other cheek," but who doesn't get angry. Think about the temptations of road rage when someone cuts you off on the highway or reacting on impulse to get revenge on someone who may say something hurtful or gossip behind your back.
Jesus said: "blessed are the peacemakers" but think about how nations see war not as the penalty of sin, but as a solution to problems. And thus the violence keeps escalating.
Jesus said: "give away all you have" but think about the economic collapse brought on by human greed and striving for more of the same that led some to mislead and manipulate others for their own gain.
Jesus said: "blessed are the meek" but think about the glories so popular today, the glories of making it big for one's self over doing big things to bless others and to leave a legacy that will benefit generations to come.
Jesus said: "deny yourself and pick up your cross" but think about the comforts of this world and the free time to ourselves that everyone wants more of. Are we listening when Jesus says: "for those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for my sake and the sake of the gospel will save it." (Mk 8:35)
Jesus said: "love your enemies" but I have grown weary of listening to opponents demonize one another back and forth. Are we hooked on that same bandwagon? Can we not see the "good" in others?
Jesus said: "Go the extra mile" but think about going the first mile. You have to go the first mile before you can go the second one.
Many Christians today are mostly OT Christians. They live more by rules and laws which were the hallmark of Moses. Their faith is mostly about avoiding the things we should not to do like "You shall not steal; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not murder; you shall not covet and so forth. But Jesus is more about fulfilling the good in positive ways.
It's not enough to simply refrain from murdering other people. I'm sure we are all innocent of that here this morning. Do we go beyond "not killing" to being active in love by building one another up?
It's not enough to refrain from adultery either, but what are we doing to fulfill our marriage vows? On this Valentine's day – husbands and wives – think about how you treat one another on a day to day basis. Is the flame of your love as strong now as when you were first married? Are you practicing all those characteristics of love we read in the love chapter of 1 Cor 13. "4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends."
Or is love taken for granted as in that famous line from the movie "Love Story." "Love means never having to say your sorry?" No, 'love means never being afraid or too proud to say you're sorry!'
It's not enough simply to refrain from 'coveting' what someone else has, but how are we using what we have to serve God's Kingdom with our life?
You can see a long way from the top of a mountain. When you listen to Jesus, he can change your life and make it better. Through each of us he can make a community a better place to live. Ultimately he can make a better world. How are you listening to Jesus in your own life and how are we listening as a church so others may hear the One who is still speaking the "words" of eternal life?