For Sunday, February 22, 2009

Scripture:
2 Kings 2:1-12 Elijah is carried away in that sweet low-swinging chariot.
Psalm 50:1-6 "God shines."
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 "...the light of the knowledge of the glory of God..."
Mark 9:2-9 Jesus is transfigured, Moses and Elijah make an appearance.

Sunday Bulletin Service Theme: Sense of the Sacred.
Hymns: #8, Praise to the Living God; #502, Dear God Embracing Humankind; #182, We Have Come at Christ's Own Bidding.

This is Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany, which begins with the revelation of the light to the gentiles, symbolized in the story of the astrologers who come from the east, guided by a star, to find the new born king (Matthew 2:1-12). The seasons ends with the light of the glory of God illuminating Jesus, revealing his son-ship to Peter, James and John, who were there by invitation.
Peter, James and John are singled out again, later in the gospel, after the passover meal, just before Jesus' arrest. Jesus went out to the garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James and John and asked them to keep awake while he prayed. But twice Jesus found them asleep, and caught sleeping a second time, "they did not know what to say." Which is what Mark writes about Peter in this story of the transfiguration, "he did not know what to say."
But not knowing what to say didn't stop Peter from speaking anyway. I suppose we have all made that mistake.
Some years ago, I saw a bumper sticker that read, "To know is to care, to care is to do: The United Church of Christ." We are a "doing" sort of a church.

"Don't just stand there, do something," could be the subtext of our mission statement.

But this gospel story challenges that busy-ness. Peter has the urge to say something, to do something, anything, to commemorate this event. And God says: "Shut up and listen."

"Don't just do something, stand there."