Opening Prayer (Saint Francis of Assisi 12th Century)
Most high and glorious God
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me truer faith,
more certain hope, and perfect charity,
sense of and knowledge of you,
so that I may carry out Your holy and true commands
for my life.
Scripture Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-11; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
Our reflection this morning is on the transfiguration of Christ. It is that moment when the veil between earth and heaven is lifted, for a moment, and a small glimpse of true reality is revealed. For the most part, we believe that what we see, hear and touch is reality. We fall into the trap that the tangible things we experience right around us is what is most important. It is a universe in which we are the centre. Yet, what is revealed in these few passages reminds us that there is a truer and fuller reality just beyond our grasp – a universe in which we are not the central character - God is.
We are like the Elisha servant. When King Aram decided that Elisha had to go because he was the reason the king could not defeat Israel, he commanded “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
There is more around us than we see. Whenever we face situations and decisions in our life, we often do it based on what we can see and hear. We see the earthly armies that come against us. We see the threats of earthly enemies. It’s not that these are not significant – for they are, if battled in the earthly. For us, they may not be a physical army, but they are, never-the-less threatening, whether they are concerning finances, health, pressures to conform, uncertainties, doubts – all those things that seek to weaken our faith, trust and reliance on God. Our problem is that we see only in part, understand only in part. The Apostle Paul tells us that one day we will understand and see in the whole.
I wonder sometimes, if for a brief moment, God ‘opened our eyes’ so that we could truly see – how would that change us? It certainly had powerful impact on numerous people throughout scripture. When the veil was lifted for Moses, it says his countenance was changed so that his face shone and it frightened the people and they told him to cover the radiance. When the Holy was revealed to Isaiah he was sure he was going to be undone as a man of unclean lips since he saw himself and his sin for what it was. When Mary, the mother of Jesus encountered the angel, “she was greatly afraid” and had to be told, “Do not fear, the Lord is with you”. At times, I wonder what it would take for me to be truly strong and courageous, knowing that the Lord our God is with me… or more importantly, what it would take for us, together, as followers of Christ, to be bold and courageous.
If our eyes were opened, what would we see? What would be revealed that is within us? When heaven is revealed things would be seen as they truly are and darkness would be driven away. All corners of our life – tucked away and so carefully hidden - would suddenly glow for all to see… for us to see. We would be revealed as we truly are. Maybe then, I, myself, am a big part of keeping that veil in place. Maybe I’m not willing or ready for God’s kingdom to be truly revealed to and in me. In the surpassing glory of His Light, reality is revealed – and those things we thought important, significant and real would evaporate. Maybe, it is a little bit like the movie the Matrix – we have been tricked into believing that what our senses are telling us is all that there is and in a way we are being held captive in a lesser dimension. We listen to the whispers, unwillingly lulled into compliancy, and when we try to break free, we are assaulted on every side – attacked by those who want this reality to be the ultimate one, assaulted by our fleshly desires and wants, imprisoned by chains of sin that we ourselves have forged, link by link – or others have forged for us.
Yet, with all that, it is God’s desire with the utterance of a few simple words to set us free, “Jesus, forgive me, cleanse me, and make me white as snow”. We know how far short we fall of the glory of God – and our hope lies in the fact that we have a high priest who was tested in every way, and yet did not sin – one who knows the struggles, pains, doubts and hardships of only seeing in part and knowing in part. It is why Christ tells us to:
“Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and then all these things will be revealed unto you”.
The revealing is happening. Maybe not as quickly as we’d like – but it is occurring. As we mature in our faith, as we trust him more, as we yield ourselves to his authority – the kingdom of God opens that little bit more. Our own full transfiguration is coming. Each one us will experience the complete revealing of the glory of God. When that happens we will be completely changed. For now, we must have the strength and conviction of Elisha not to forsake, not to be distracted or give up hope, but to hang on and tell those voices to “be quiet”, and declare to Christ, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” Why did Elisha hold on? He wanted more of the presence of God. May that too be our own desire.
1 John 3:2-3 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purifiy themselves, just as he is pure.
A Prayer of Saint Clement of Rome (96 AD)
You Lord, through your works have revealed the everlasting structure of the world. You, Lord created the earth. You are faithful throughout all generations, righteous in your judgments, marvelous in strength, and majesty, wise in creating and prudent in establishing what exists, good in all that is observed and faithful to those who trust in you, merciful and compassionate; forgive us our sins and our injustices, our transgressions and our shortcomings.
Do not take into account every sin of your servants, but cleanse us with the cleasing of Your truth, and "direct our steps to walk in holiness and righteousness and purity of heart," and "to do what is good and pleasing in your sight" and in the sight of our rulers. Yes, Lord, "let your face shine upon us" in peace "for our good," that we may be sheltered "by your mighty hand" and delivered from every sin "by your uplifted arm"; deliver us as well from those who hate us unjustly.
Give harmony and peace to us and to all who dwell on the earth, just as you did to our fathers when they reverently "called upon you in faith and trust," that we may be saved, while we render obedience to your almighty and most excellent name, and give harmony and peace to our rulers and governors on earth.
Anyway, I was just thinking.
Neil
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