Sermons for the Month

The God of the Exodus and of Easter Rules
DATE: February 26th, 2006
SERVICE: The Transfiguration of Our Lord
TEXT: Mark 9:2-9

“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN

It's good to be here this morning after being gone for three weeks. Those of you who spoke with me before today may be wondering if I'll make sense this morning, since I'm not sure that was the case earlier this week as I struggled with being just plain tired. Perhaps that inability to produce original thought is why I came up with three words to describe my travels; they are exciting, interesting and stressful. And, the refrain I've been saying over and over again is that I'm really glad I went, but I'm also SO thankful to be home, and to live in the United States, especially as a woman.

I'm hoping to set up a time soon to share about my experiences, although I'm sure a story or two will find their way into my sermons as well. This morning, though, I want to begin by sharing a quote with you from Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene H. Peterson. He writes, "You don't live in a mechanistic world ruled by necessity; you don't live in a random world ruled by chance; you live in a world ruled by the God of Exodus and Easter. He will do things in you that neither you nor your friends would have supposed possible."

As I consider his words I must confess that at times I perceive myself as living in a world ruled by necessity, a world that is most random, where people struggle to meet their basic needs and unfair tragedies happen to those who deserve better. In the face of that, I need to be reminded that there is another reality at work among us, that I also live - that we live - in a world filled with the transfiguring power of God.

Today's Gospel lesson indicates that the disciples needed a reminder of that too. After all, immediately before the events described in today's reading Peter had confessed that Jesus is the Messiah (8:27-30), and Jesus foretold his death and resurrection, to which Peter expressed serious objection and for which he was soundly chastised by Jesus (8:31-33). Then, Jesus began to teach his followers that to be a disciple requires sacrifice (8:34-38).

How confused they must have been, and Jesus understood that. So, he decided to prepare three of them - Peter, James and John - for what was to come by giving them a glimpse of God in him by being transfigured before them.

For years I've known that the Greek word that we translate "transfigured" is the same one from which we get the English word metamorphosis. I know I've talked about this in sermons before now; it's the idea that one thing, like a caterpillar, becomes something it totally different, like a butterfly.

But I'm not sure I've ever really focused on that fact that that's not what happened to Jesus; he did not become something new. Instead, he showed Peter, James and John who he really was. They were given a glimpse of the glory of God in Jesus. Oh, I think they had been given an opportunity to see that glory before this event, but perhaps they did not quite "get it". But now - as Jesus becomes dazzling white and the other masters of the faith show up - there is no doubt who he is.

Perhaps, having seen him from the inside out, the chances are better that they will listen to him. That was the hope, I think, although I'm not sure it actually happened when it came to accepting what Jesus said about suffering and death, which is the next item on his agenda. Yet, because of this event perhaps these followers would think twice before they dismissed the possibility that Jesus would do that which seems impossible.

As I said earlier, sometimes we need such reminders. In a way, my trip to Egypt did that for me. It reminded me that our world is ruled by the God of the Exodus and of Easter, and that God can do things that I would not have supposed possible.

I have so many examples of that, from the extreme to the simple. But let me tell you first what you may already know. Egypt is a Muslim country; only 10 percent of its 72 million people are Christian, and of that 10 percent, 8 percent are Orthodox, 1 percent are Catholic and 1 percent are Protestant.

Strict rules govern the Christian faith; it's illegal to in any way share one's faith with Muslims; it's illegal to build a church within a certain distance of a mosque; it's illegal to become a Christian if one is a Muslim, although converting to the Muslim faith is applauded. Up until two years ago Christians who wanted to build a church, or any ministry related building, had to get permission from the president of the country himself. Such permission also had to be sought for any renovation or repair in a Christian church, whether it was repairing a toilet or replacing a wall. And, acquiring such permission was virtually impossible - a dream we were told. Now, such permission must be sought from the governor of a region, which is still difficult, but not as daunting.

So, in the face of such obstacles did the church lie down and die? No, instead the power of God is at work is ways that seem impossible. As just one example let me tell you about El Saray Church in Alexandria which would founded in 1952, just a few years before our congregation was born. The Sunday that we were there about 100 people attended worship in the morning, and about 60 in the evening, some of whom had also been present earlier in the day. The church building, by American standards, is not in good shape. But let me tell you what those few people have accomplished in terms of ministry.

They own and operate a school for the mentally challenged where there are 185 students - the majority of whom are Muslims - and 73 teachers. On the top floor of that school they have a group home to provide a safe place for some of the most at risk children. There also is a day nursery for 150 children. In other locations the church runs a residential care center for the elderly and an impressive medical clinic where everything is done from eye exams to delivering babies to surgery. They have two retreat centers.

And, El Saray has begun two Christian congregations in outlying areas, and is working in a third location. Now, let me make the situation clear, there is no financial support for these ministries from the government or from the larger church in Egypt. There is no such thing as a bank loan for Christian churches. When the decision is made to do something money is raised from the Christian community within and outside of the country.

I have to add here that the apartments of congregation members where we stayed, settings that are considered "middle class", are a long way from our understanding of that designation. It's obvious that if people have money it is not going into their material possessions; I have to assume that many of them are making significant sacrifices in order to proclaim the Gospel.

Still resources are very limited; buildings are not well maintained and equipment is old; we would not consider any of the facilities we saw as safe or adequate. But, ministry is happening.

Then there's the matter of getting permission to do anything. In the case of one of the outpost ministries a member of the congregation, knowing that he was putting himself at risk, used his own money combined with what had been raised and purchased a property in his own name. On the permits he indicated that he was renovating it as a warehouse for his business.

This was the new church. There could be no signs, no crosses, no indication from the outside what was actually going on inside. Yet, people came, a preschool was established - a preschool that serves mostly Muslims, thus fostering relationships among people - outreach happened. When years later the government finally gave permission for the ministry to exist, that church member donated "his" warehouse to the church.

Do you see what I mean about God being at work in people astounding ways? Seeing all this was a transfiguration experience for me, just as seeing Jesus in dazzling white was one for Peter, James and John. It humbled me; it made me realize how much we take for granted and how little we actually sacrifice for the sake of touching people's lives with the love of Jesus.

And, finally, it made me more aware that our world is not ruled just by necessity, nor is it random, but that the God of the Exodus and of Easter is a work in people in ways that neither they nor their friends would have thought possible. If that can be true in Alexandria, Egypt, then surely it can be true in Akron, Ohio, USA.

AMEN

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