The Rev. Dan Rondeau
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church & School
Exodus 24:12(13-14)15-18| Psalm 99 | Philippians 3:7-14 | Matthew 17:1-9
Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; for the Lord our God is the Holy One. Psalm 99:9
Derek Lukes, this homily is for you. You will have to have the help of your mom and dad to remember it, and I know they will. Brothers and sisters in Christ, while I direct my comments to Derek, soon to be our newest brother in Christ, please listen—for I am telling him the truth about us all.
On this Sunday we remember how Jesus "was transfigured before [his disciples], and [how] his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white." The glory of God shone through Jesus in that moment. In that moment, Peter, James, and John knew that Jesus was more than merely human. God and man united in Jesus of Nazareth. A mystery we have inherited, a mystery we have preserved, a mystery we hand on to the next generation, to your generation Derek.
The truth is God is beyond us in every way imaginable. We try to explain this with descriptions like: all-powerful, all knowing, and all wise. We have understood this truth by receiving and believing in the words of our Bible, and I ask you to treasure the stories of the Bible as you grow.
Peter, James, and John, were familiar with the story about Moses, how he went up the mountain and how "the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel." Awesome! The disciples were familiar, as are we, with the Psalm verse we just read: "proclaim the greatness of the Lord…." Good advice. And they were familiar with God's glory revealed in a vision the prophet Isaiah: "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
`Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.'" (Is 6:1-3)
With their own eyes, Peter, James, and John saw the glory of God shine through Jesus. They knew, though it took them a little longer to really begin to understand, that Jesus was both God and human.
We recognize the glory of God, the majesty of God, we truthfully say how much God is beyond us, in our prayers, and I ask that you treasure the prayers your parents will hand on to you: "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory," we pray every Sunday. In our beautiful Eucharistic Prayer D we speak clearly: "It is truly right to glorify you, Father, for you alone are God, living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and for ever…countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise."
In another beautiful prayer from our Prayer Book we tell the truth about ourselves and our God: "…Lord…we are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table." Ours is the understanding of the Psalmist who said: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?" (Psalm 8:3-4) God is utterly beyond us.
But now, Derek, let me tell you another truth about God, a truth you are about to experience in your Baptism. With the knowledge of the glory of God revealed in Jesus on the mountaintop, Peter, James, and John, went on; they traveled with Jesus, and learned from him, all the way to his death on the cross. That's right: crucified, died, and buried. It seemed like the end. It was only after he was raised on the third day and only after the Holy Spirit filled them with courage and wisdom, that they began to understand: through Jesus they were as close to the Holy, Mighty, All-powerful God as a child is to his parents. In and through Jesus, the God who was so beyond them took flesh and became a brother. As a brother, and a wiser brother at that, Jesus taught them to pray "Abba, Father." Jesus taught them to call the Holy One, "Abba," that is, "Dad, Daddy, Father."
You are God's son; you are my brother. You are God's son; you are welcomed into this family that has lots of brothers and sisters. You are God's son; you will be able to go anywhere in the world and find a brother or sister who will pray, like you, "Abba, Father." God is that close to us. We rejoice. God is within us. We give thanks. That is what we believe. You will hear this as we give thanks to the Father today saying, "… in Jesus Christ our Lord you have received us as your sons and daughters."
Derek: humbly walk with God knowing that God is Holy, "dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and always;" it is the truth. Proudly walk with God through your life knowing that you are God's beloved child who can call out "Abba, Father" and have God's full attention and love; it is the truth.
Let us all walk humbly with our great and glorious God; let us all walk proudly, hand in hand with Abba, Father.
Amen.