[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #543, Epiphany 7, 2-18-07

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Epiphany 7, February 18, 2007

Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-43

Glory Gleams, the Witnesses Worship 

Find the glory, and you will find the worshiper.  You will find Stephen 
Hawking at worship where black holes congregate, drawing all the matter 
in the universe down to a mass the size of a BB just before it explodes 
in blinding light, the universe transfigured.  One hardly knows what to 
say, "A new science building with 'Newton' chiseled into the 
cornerstone and another with 'Einstein', and one for you, Stephen."  We 
are in awe of such a vision.  All other events pale by comparison.  
Everything is relativized.  We are transcended by it, swallowed by its 
light.  We worship not by intention but by reflex.  We worship and are 
energized by the experience  --   elevated.

Moses was so swallowed by the light that he glowed.  In response to my 
disdain for the theology of the Latter Day Saints, on a visit to Salt 
Lake City, a Catholic Priest with me said, "The glow of the Spirit on 
our guide's face was undeniable."  Theology is set aside by God's 
glory, a light so brilliant that one cannot make out the words, not 
even brilliant words.  Peter could just as well have kept his words to 
himself.  What Moses encountered was light.  What he conveyed was law. 
What the Disciples encountered was light.  What they conveyed was 
faith.  What both Moses and the Disciples experienced was profound 
worship, where one says, "The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He 
sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!"  (Psalm 99:1)  
The glory revealed in Jesus elicited the faith, not the fear, of those 
who beheld it.  It was a manifestation of God's Glory that freed people 
to look, to look without having the burnt glass of theology and 
doctrine held before their eyes. (The role of theology and doctrine is 
to tells where and how to look not to shield our eyes.) Paul says, 
"Look!  You won't be blinded because of a lack of righteousness.  You 
don't need veils or dark glasses.  You can see the glory of God by 
faith, and seeing you will believe, and believing you will live."

This light that we see, this glory, exists in the midst of darkness.  
It was a bitter march to Mount Sinai, and it was a frustrating sight 
that greeted Moses when he first descended.  It was a stern lecture 
about Jesus' death that preceded the walk up the Mount of 
Transfiguration, and a frustrating scene that greeted Jesus when he 
descended.  "The light shines in the darkness," as the Gospel of John 
says.  Darkness is all about.  That is what makes the Glory of God so 
bright.  "And the darkness has not overcome it."  For all of God's 
glory, for all the mountaintop experiences, it is not obvious that 
darkness will be overcome, not in your life, not in mine, not in 
anyone's. In the United Methodist ritual for Baptism there is this 
question:  "Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness...?" Too 
often this question is left out by the presiding pastors.  Why?  Is it 
to maintain our Disney World view of life?  Satan is just a guy from 
central casting, dressed up to do a period piece -- really "just folks" 
once you get to know him.  The day will end as it always does with 
Tinkerbell lifted up in a display of fireworks.  No!  The darkness is 
real and stark.  John is making a profound faith statement when he 
proclaims: "And the darkness has not overcome it." What do Jesus, Moses 
and Elijah talk about in the light, after all?  The darkness!  Jesus' 
impending death.

God's Glory has two functions, to scatter the darkness and to open the 
eyes of mortals.  The characters in the light shows above came down 
 from the mountain -- and came down right soon.  It is the mission of 
light to confront darkness.  Moses had to come down and impart the law. 
  Jesus and the disciples had to come down and confront unfaith, with 
all the human maladies that follow it.  In each case, when they set 
foot on level ground, one could feel the earth shake just a little.  
Let it be that way when you step into the pulpit.  Let it be that way 
when your congregation steps out the door.



May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
http://www.webspawner.com/users/McGregorPage/

The MCGREGORPAGE is available free to your email inbox
To subscribe, write the word SUBSCRIBE in the Subject line and send it 
to mcgregorpage-request at intenex.net.

To unsubscribe, write the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line and send 
it to mcgregorpage-request at intenex.net.

You may contact the author at RMcGregorAlbq at AOL.COM.

  --Copyright 2007, Roland McGregor, all rights reserved—
You have permission to share this material with any individual provided 
that you include the source with e-mail address.


________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL.  Most comprehensive set of free safety and 
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from 
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
=0