"In Our Greatest Joys and Deepest Sorrows"

Meditation on Matthew 17:1-9

March 2, 2014

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     "Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ ⁵While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ ⁸And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’"

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     While visiting parishioners this week at the nursing home and senior living community in Renville, a staff member took me on a tour of the facility’s new Spiritual Care room, opening later this month. The room that used to contain exercise equipment and was used for physical therapy is being remodeled with fresh paint, carpeting and furnishings for its new use. Local churches and individuals have given money and other items for the room, including a painting of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and an old stained glass window, altar, and a cross from a church that closed.  More money is needed for things such as multipurpose chairs and a continuously flowing waterfall as a reminder of Christ, who offers to all His living water that will quench our spiritual thirst. 

   When I first heard about the Spiritual Care room being planned, I wondered why it was needed. The nursing home dining hall has a pretty chapel set up on one end and is used for church services during the week and on Sunday afternoons. But when our area ministers’ group was invited to help plan the Spiritual Care room, we talked about wanting a private place where we could serve communion with a small group or meet with a grieving family, maybe hold a prayer service or Bible study. But the Spiritual Care room won’t be just for clergy to administer sacraments and pastoral care and teach from God’s Word. The room is meant to be a quiet place, a holy space, where any person--staff member, resident, tenant or guest—may go to pray.

      You might be wondering why Christians might need such a place to pray. Can’t Christians pray any time, anywhere? The Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing and he certainly could not live a missionary’s life if he were tied to one building or room.

      And can one place be holier than another?

     The answer is yes, we can and should pray all the time—everywhere. And no, in our Reformed Faith tradition, there isn’t one place that is inherently holier than another. God is everywhere in Spirit and we are to live lives of worship and service. And Christ’s Spirit lives in the heart of every believer. So if any space could be considered holier than another, it is our bodies, which are “temples” and “dwelling places” of the Lord.

    But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t set aside a place to be used as a holy space—whether it be an entire building as a church or just a somewhat ordinary room in a nursing home devoted to “spiritual care.”  A place that is free from the many distractions of this world. A place where we will find rest and spiritual renewal by spending time with the Lord.

     The more I think about, I think what a blessing this Spiritual Care room would be if it reminds people that God is with us always—on a high mountain or low valley, in our winters and in our springs, in our greatest joys and deepest sorrows. And that it is up to us to slow down and silence the noise of our lives, seek Him in prayer, and listen for His voice.

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    Now that I have told you that there is no place that is holier than another—there are only places that are formally set aside and dedicated for worship of the Lord—we read in Exodus about God leading Moses up a high mountain to be in God’s presence and receive the Ten Commandments. And then we read in Matthew when Jesus leads Peter, James and John up a high mountain, where they see a divine vision and hear a voice from a cloud.  The voice confirms what Peter declared six days before when Jesus asked him who he was—that Jesus is the Son of God. For the last 6 days, Jesus has been trying to tell them about his imminent death and resurrection, and teach them that all who follow him must be God’s obedient servants, willing to suffer for His sake.  Before Jesus leads them up the high mountain, he says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.”

       On the mountain top, the disciples watch in terror as Jesus is transfigured, like Moses in Exodus, so that his face shines like the sun and his clothes are a dazzling white. Jesus meets and talks with Moses and Elijah, and Peter is so frightened, he doesn’t know what to say. He foolishly offers to build houses or shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

      This vision, at the time, is meant only for Peter, James and John—to help them understand who Jesus is and to learn to trust in Him through the suffering that is to come. Because He will be with them in their greatest joys and deepest sorrows. God will be with them always.

       On the way down the mountain after the transfiguration, Jesus warns his disciples to tell no one about this vision—not until he has been raised from the dead.

       But the voice in the cloud is speaking to all of us when he tells the disciples, “Listen to him.”

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      In just a few days, Lent will begin. At this time every year, I vow to be more like the humble, obedient servant that Christ calls His followers to be. I promise that I will try and slow down and make more time and space for the Lord because, friends, we can’t be God’s humble, obedient servants if we are too busy with our own activities to pray. To seek His face. To listen for His voice.

       But then I struggle to find more time and space for the Lord because, ironically, this is a minister’s busiest season of the church year.  Perhaps you, too, struggle to slow down in your busy lives during Lent and make more time and space for the Lord. Maybe, like me, you feel like you are failing to do what God is calling you to do.

      The answer is this: accept God’s grace. Accept His unconditional love!  Let’s give up trying in our own strength and wisdom to be like Christ. And let us allow Jesus to lead us to the time and place of divine encounter that awaits each one of us.

     The Bible assures us that if we draw nearer to God, the Lord will draw nearer to us. There is a “high mountain” somewhere in our lives where we will find a quiet place, a holy space, to pray and seek His face. To listen for his voice. A place where we will be reassured that God is with us in our greatest joys and deepest sorrows. He is with us always.

      And to learn, like Peter, James and John, just who Jesus really is.

      And begin to fully trust in Him.   

     

Let us pray.

Almighty God, thank you for Your Word and the promise of salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your grace and unconditional love for us.  Help us to have more grace, love and patience for ourselves and one another. Reassure us with your comforting presence that you are with us in our greatest joys and deepest sorrows. That you are with us always. Lord, we ask that you will lead us to the “high mountain” in our lives, a quiet place to seek your face and be refreshed and renewed. Open our ears to hear your voice. Open our eyes to see your vision for our church, families, and community. Give us hearts to obey your will. Make us more like your Son. In His name we pray. Amen.