The Transfiguration

The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 97; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Luke 9:28b-36

A homily on the occasion of moving toward a new assignment.

“Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents… But Peter did not know what he was saying.” Luke was correct. Peter did not know what he was suggesting. He somehow wanted to preserve, to capture the moment, as we do with our phone cameras, whatever this vision or experience was before him. But Peter had forgotten that the God of Israel was a desert God and therefore a God who is always on the move. And thus it would – must be – with his people.

God called Abraham and Sarah to move from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran in Canaan. God sent Israel down to Egypt and then summoned Moses, Aaron & Miriam to lead them out of slavery with great wonders through the desert toward a land of promise. God arranged for Israel to return home from Babylon creating, as Isaiah sang, “a highway called the holy way…for those with a journey to make.” [Isaiah 35:8a, 9b] Jesus sent throughout Israel without even a backpack disciples to announce the Kingdom of God. Jesus called Paul to be his mouth piece and Paul traveled all over the Greco-Roman Empire. Francis, Hildegard von Bingen, Boniface, Isaac Jogues, Teresa of Kolkata, Francis Xavier, Damien of Molokai, and nameless and forgotten women and men of religious orders all followed Paul’s example.

Pilgrims, present and past, to Jerusalem, Rome, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, and Lourdes are a reminder of this God who journeys. Priests, women and men religious and missionaries, under obedience, are a reminder to the church of the God who is always on the move. Yes, God rests, or allows us to rest for a time at an occasional oasis in life and then moves on always going forward into unknown futures filled with hope.

This journey becomes more difficult when the move is from the head to the heart, from fear to trust, from hurt to forgiveness & reconciliation, from the known to the unknown, from inequality, hate, and prejudice to justice.

For ten years I have striven to preach to you the Word of God. I have primarily spoken about human dignity and beauty.

The human being is the first and true dwelling place of God. Therefore take the risk of entering into relationship with each other. This is where you will find the presence of the living God. Ignore first impressions. They are often wrong. None of us knows what burdens are being carried another person. The saddest remark ever made to me was by a parishioner who told me as I left the parish, “I didn’t get close to you because I didn’t want to hurt when you left.” Take the risk. Relationship beyond surface acquaintances will hurt at some time. Stand with and speak up for the oppressed.

All beauty finds it origin in God and always leads back to God. Surround yourself with beauty. Purchase a plant, put it in the window and tend it. Read novels and poetry. Poets and authors open up spiritual pathways though stories, images & words that crack open new meanings: Flannery O’Connor, T. S. Eliot, Rumer Godden, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Graham Greene, Wilfrid Owen, James Joyce, Shusako Endo, & Toni Morrison.

Listen to the music of the masters of whatever genre. Which means sitting down and doing nothing else but listening. It will teach you how to recognize and listen for the voice of God.

Purchase a piece of art, not a copy. A creative piece made by human hands which reflects the creative act of God.

Experience live theatre. Playwrights have a unique manner in which to address the human situation in all our complexity and so move the human heart.

Over the years I have peppered you with thought provoking questions which I have not answered. The Christian who does not reflect on their relationship with God, the cross, their response to the Gospel; the Christian who does not struggle with the complex moral issues of our times and only seeks simple black and white answers so as to quickly move on or worse remain unchanged is not the salt or light Jesus calls us to be. Do not be afraid of asking such questions or of the challenging answers you may encounter.

“Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents…" No Peter, it is not time to set up tents. Jesus must move on toward Jerusalem and Calvary. It is time for me to move on to another field and as Jesus has taught without looking back. Did the seeds take root? Where they eaten by the birds? Did they spring up with freshness and vibrant colour and then wither? Did they fall on deaf ears and die? Either way, the tent must be taken down, folded up and put on the top of the car.

And then all of us must as the voice has directed, “listen to Jesus, the Chosen One.”