The Rev. Robert Lundquist Last after Epiphany B 2/26/06 St Paul’s, Ft Collins

From following the guiding star – to seeing Jesus clothing in “dazzling white.” This has been our season after the Epiphany. With the Magi we sought and found the child Jesus, guided by that heavenly light. We end with the mountaintop Transfiguration as we prepare for Lent. Epiphany means “shining forth,” and we see the Light of the World revealed, the face of God in Jesus Christ.

Today’s scriptures reference three mountaintops. The first is Horeb, the “mountain of God.” Here we find Elijah, the greatest of all the prophets of Israel. Elijah has just fled Mount Carmel, where he had battled and defeated (and killed) 400 prophets of the Babylonian fertility god Baal. This made Elijah pretty unpopular in those parts, to he fled to Horeb. Despairing and suicidal, Elijah is ministered to by an angel. And he climbs God’s mountain, to spend 40 days there. “What are you doing here?” asks God. Funny, that’s a question I find myself asking myself from time to time…

Elijah is instructed to go to the mouth of the cave and see God passing by. First the stone-shattering wind passes, but God is not in the wind. And God is not in the earthquake. And God is not in the fire that sweeps through. It is only in the sheer silence, the murmur, the Elijah hears God. Some translations call it the still, small voice of the Lord. This is the primary discipline of Lent – to seek the still, small voice. A voice that is often lost in the hustle and bustle of our lives.

A story of a teacher and his disciples illustrates – one day when the students came to the master they found him stirring a large basin of water with his hand. “What lies at the bottom of the bowl?” he asked them. None of the followers could discern anything beneath the water. When the teacher stopped stirring, the water calmed and they could plainly see the object at the bottom of the bowl. So it is with our lives – silence, calm and stillness are essential for hearing and seeing what is deep within.

In this sheer silence God asks Elijah again, “What are you doing here?” And Elijah gives the same answer, word for word. But something is different. Elijah as seen and heard God, and God gives him 3 tasks: 1) to anoint Hazael King of Syria, 2) to anoint Jehu King of Israel, and 3) to anoint Elisha as his successor, to be the prophet of God. And Elijah will not be alone, says God. 7000 will receive the revelation and will stand with Elijah, the greatest of all the prophets.

The second mountaintop is implied in today’s readings – Mount Sinai. Remember how Moses ascended Sinai to receive the Law, the commandments of God. He remained for 40 days in communion with God, and when he descended with the tablets the people had grown so impatient that they had melted down their jewelry and created a golden calf to worship. Moses smashed the stone tablets, of course. He was persuaded to go back up the mountain to fetch the carbon copies. God was revealed to Moses in such stellar glory that Moses had to wear a veil when he went among his people, so bright was his face. He met God face to face on Mount Sinai, and received the Law.

In the Gospel of Mark we find Jesus and the three (Peter, James and John) climbing the unnamed Mount of the Transfiguration. On that peak Jesus was changed from glory into glory – the earthly Jesus, son of God and Son of Man, is transformed for an instant into the heavenly, shining as the brightest star. Like Moses before God. And who joins Jesus? Moses and Elijah, standing for the Law and the Prophets. Jesus is affirmed by both heaven and earth for an instant. And the voice from heaven, from the cloud that overshadows them all, says, “This is my beloved.” At Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River the voice says, “You are my beloved.” Now God speaks not only to Jesus, but to the entire world. “Listen to him,” the voice continues. Listen to the Word of God, now revealed as Jesus the Christ. He is now much more than teacher, preacher and healer. And it’s a lot harder to listen to him – “Take up your cross and follow me.” How we wish that one was optional!

Years ago I heard the story of the seeker after Jesus. From town to town he went, searching the marketplaces and back streets, looking for Jesus. One evening his gaze wandered up to the mountain ridge, and there was Jesus, silhouetted by the setting sun. So the seeker made his way up the steep mountain path, only to find that Jesus was not there. Looking all around, he finally spotted Jesus in the town, healing children and feeding the hungry. Truly Jesus leads us in our journey, always preceding us. We go to the mountaintops, places of great spiritual power – but we cannot dwell there, as Peter wishes when he offers to build three booths. “This is so great, let’s stay here forever!” he seems to say. No, we are inspired on the mountaintop, but only to be strengthened for the ministry we’re called to.

Hands and heart. Work and joy. Town and mountaintop. When Jesus, Peter, James and John descend from the Mount of the Transfiguration, the first thing Jesus does is heal a deaf-mute child. No, we cannot live on the mountaintop.

Jesus transfigured: a new star to guide us. God causes a new light to shine in our hearts in the face of Jesus Christ. For Jesus revealed and transfigured is the hope and redemption of the world. Just as the disciples are promised, we too will fully understand at Easter, when Christ is raised from the dead.

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