Sermons for the Month
Listen To Him
DATE: February 3rd, 2008
SERVICE: The Transfiguration of our Lord
TEXT: Matthew 17:1-9 and 2 Peter 1:16-21“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
When I was a teenager I knew of a boy who was 5 or 6 years old who had an odd habit. Whenever he spoke to you he would reach up and move your jaw in his direction. The doctors labeled it as a compulsive action, which I suppose it was. But the fact of the matter was that he lived in a home in turmoil, and this was his way of saying, "Pay attention to me." Now, more than 30 years later, I look back on that child with sadness knowing that this was a little boy who wanted to be heard. That is true of all of us, and it's a legitimate need. It's why in so may direct and indirect ways people say, "Listen to me." Sometimes their actions lead to success, and other times to sorrow or disruption. This need was on my mind when I read the Gospel lesson, so it seemed to me that Peter's desire to build booths (or tents) for Jesus, and those heroes of the Jewish faith, Moses and Elijah, may have indicated a desire to be noticed. There are a number of theories for why Peter interrupted a holy moment with his offer to get busy. Some scholars say, he was thinking of the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God in the midst of the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness. If it was appropriate for God to dwell in a tent in the wilderness, then it must be appropriate for Jesus to dwell in a tent on the mountain. Or, perhaps he was trying to prolong the mountain top experience. Others say he's a man of action and simply feels the need to do something. (1) All of that may be the case, but I still say that Peter wanted to be heard. He was saying, "Listen to me." Now, you would think that Peter would have been more hesitant to speak up. Just before they went up the mountain Peter had rebuked Jesus for saying that in Jerusalem he would undergo great suffering and death. "God forbid it, Lord!" Peter said, "This must never happen to you." To which Jesus responded, "Get behind me Satan. You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things." Yet, once again, Peter is focused not on the glory of God in front of him, but on being involved in it. "…if you wish I will make three dwellings…." And the words are not completely out of his mouth when God interrupts him (as if to say, "Peter, may I get a word in edgewise?") "Look Peter", God says, "Do you see who is in front of you? It's my Son, the Beloved. Peter, LISTEN TO HIM." It's a command that echoes down off the mountain and through the ages to reach our ears. "Listen to him!" because if we carefully listen to what Jesus says, we would realize that the cries of our hearts have been heard. Jesus offers words of comfort and grace. I opened the Gospel of Luke and found all this: To a known sinner who weeps at his feet his says, "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace." (Luke 7:48, 50) Listen to him. To a woman who has suffered for 12 years he makes a similar promise, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace" (Luke 8:48) Listen to him. He told his followers not to worry over the needs of this life. "Instead, strive for his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:31-32) Listen to him. He described God as a waiting father with arms open wide. When his son had wasted his life and was returning home, not expecting to be welcomed and hoping to become a servant in his father's household, Jesus says that the father ran to welcomed him, celebrated and said, "…this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!" (Luke 15:11-24) Listen to him. Before he suffered for us, he promised to come to us as we share a sacred feast, "Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, "This is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19) Listen to him. And as his followers hid in fear after his death, wondering about stories that Jesus had been seen alive, he stood among them and said, "Peace be with you. Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" (Luke 24:36-38) Listen to him. He comforts us, but he also compels us to listen to words of challenge which always point us back to what he said after chastising Peter for his worldly focus. "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life with lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake with find it." (Matthew 16:24-25). Fulfillment is found on the path of sacrificial love. Listen to him. Somewhere along the line Peter caught on to the importance of doing just that. The second lesson reflects his teaching that scripture itself, which eventually would include the story of Jesus, was the result of people listening to God and speaking. The result being that God's word, spoken through people of faith, is like a lamp shinning in a dark place. It will provide light; it will brighten our way and our days, until Jesus returns and "the morning star rises in your hearts." So, we listen. I know that I've mentioned before a book by Joan Chittister titled, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. There is a chapter in it titled, "Listening: the Key to Spiritual Growth." It focuses on listening to scripture and listening to the wise counsel of other Christians who have maneuvered successfully around the dangers of an unmeaningful life. Today I want to focus on what she says about listening to scripture. She writes that the Rule of Benedict refers to scripture as the voice of Christ, a divine medicine. As such, "it calls us back on dull days to the overriding purpose of life," she writes. And, "it heals us of our own narrowness or smallness or struggles with faith in an age that says the purpose of life is to get ahead…. The scriptures bring us to watch the great figures of the Gospel working through their own struggles of faith in times that were, for them, equally as perilous as ours." So, like them, we listen and then we live the good news. But, in order for that to happen, we must have open hearts, that is, a willingness to be touched. "There is no room for isolated splendor or self-sufficiency. The listener can always learn and turn and begin again. The open can always be filled. The real disciple can always be surprised by God." When listening is combined with openness, amazing things can happen. Sister Joan writes that at the monastery the bells ring to warn people that those inside are listening to the Word of God, "to put the world on notice that we may be different now…." Remember, the Word of God does not exist for its own sake. "When we start listening to the Word of God, to others around us, to those with wise hearts and tried souls, life changes from the dry and the independent to the compassionate and the meaningful. When we start listening to the word of God people have the right to expect something new of us." (2) Let me say that again. When we start listening to the word of God people have the right to expect something new of us. As we leave this place and go out into our day-to-day lives, we should be different. Then, my friends, I can guarantee that we will no longer suffer from feeling unheard for these two reasons. First, as we listen to God, we become more confident that God listens to us. And, second, the world will hear us too because we will have something valuable to share. They will see that our actions are transforming and hear words of mercy, grace compassion and justice that are worth hearing. Peter received good advice that we too should follow. Listen to Him, to Jesus.
AMEN
(1) Sermonwriter, Transfiguration (Feb. 3, 2008), pg. 6, www.sermonwriter.com
(2) Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today by Joan Chittister, OSB, Harper, San Francisco, 1990, pgs. 16-24.