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GOD'S MESSAGE THIS WEEK
Sermon for February 18, 2007 Calvary Church,
The Rev. Mary A. Canavan

Scripture Readings: The Last Sunday after the Epiphany Exodus 34.29-35 Psalm 99 1 Corinthians 12.27-13.13 Luke 9.28-36

It is said that only blindness prevents us from seeing something that is already in front of us (2 Cor. 4.4).

A modern saint, the late Bede Griffiths, wrote in his autobiography, The Golden String, of a time in his youth when he had been buried in doubt and depression. Since he was seeking God, he went to church; at first, prayer eluded him. Then one day during a worship service, he heard a line from Psalm 119.18: “Open my eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy law.”

He was deeply moved and sensed that he had been given the answer and the hope he was seeking. He walked outside onto a London street, and this is his recollection:

“When I went outside, I found that the world about me no longer oppressed me as it had done. The hard casting of exterior reality seemed to have been broken through, and everything disclosed its inner being. The buses in the streets seemed to have lost their solidity and were glowing with light. I hardly felt the ground as I trod…I was like a bird that has broken the shell of its egg and finds itself in a new world, like a child that has forced its way out of the womb and sees the light of day for the first time.”

The psalm says, “Open my eyes that I may see…” It’s not that light suddenly streams into the world from a source beyond. Rather, something in us changes. Peter, James, John—Bede—and us, can experience a breaking down of barriers that block the light. It is a matter of seeing, a matter of awareness. But there are many obstacles to our first seeing and then continuing in the light—learning to shine ourselves.

There is a story about an ascetic (a person who lives simply in prayer and without material things) who goes to the mountaintop to become enlightened or “lightened.” He fasts and prays constantly; he gives up all wordly desires in favor of meditation. This goes on for many years until he has finally “arrived.” No matter which direction he turns, he perceives only the unbounded bliss of pure awareness.

Overjoyed, he rushes down into the village below to tell everyone. But on the way, he must pass through a crowd of rowdy and drunken “party-goers.” Quietly, he tries to make his way through the crowd, but one drunk after another bumps into him and makes a crude remark. Finally, the ascetic can’t stand it any longer, and he protests, “Get out of my way!” In an instant, he stops, turns and retreats back to the mountain.

True enlightenment, immersion in the light of the awareness of God—emblazoned on our minds in this Transfiguration of Christ’s life and mission—is meant to withstand the rigors of this life, even the rigors of the passion and crucifixion.

Peter, James and John must eventually descend. They have been privileged to view an unveiling, and have participated in an eternal moment…Yet their task, like ours, lies down below, at the foot of the mountain.

In moments of enlightenment—in worship, in Scripture, in profound experiences we are granted—we become one with the light of our God. Jesus told Peter, James, and John to keep what they saw a secret until after Jesus’ resurrection. Well, it is after the resurrection now. We are called not to put our light, the light within us, and the light beyond us, under a bushel, but to shine. As is said in the baptism, “Let your light so shine before others, that they also come to know the true light.” Let it shine.

There are many others, like Bede Griffiths, walking around in a murky, foggy stupor…unaware of the Light of the world. And, if you are one of those walking around in a foggy stupor and haven’t seen the Light, ask God to see it. Go ahead and ask. Ask and ask and ask. Pray and pray and pray. It will be given to you. Go ahead: ask and pray, ask and pray, ask and pray.

Sources and references : (note that the above is the approximate verbal text of a sermon spoken without notes and does not include quotations or footnotes (except where noted) that a formal publication, speech, or written report would include)

The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV)
Synthesis – Year C – 2007/2006
Synthesis – Year C – 2003/2004
Synthesis – Year C – 2000/2001
Pulpit Resource by William Willimon
Anglicans Online website – “Sermons that Work,” Year C
The Gospel of Luke Commentary – William Barclay The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Abingdon Press

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