"Listen to Him!" - Sermon for Transfiguration of Our Lord Sunday

Listen to Him!
Transfiguration of Our Lord – Narrative Lectionary 3
February 26, 2017
Grace, Mankato, MN
Luke 9.28-45

Cindy and I recently saw the movie “Hidden Figures,” which tells of three African-American women who work as “computers” for NASA in the early sixties. It was the advent of the space race and the rush to manned orbit and the moon. The Russians were winning the space race and there was a lot of pressure on America to catch up. This was a time before the IBM computer was fully operational and NASA needed people, but white and “colored,” to check and recheck computations made by the engineers.

Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan were brilliant, capable women and, though they had important jobs, they were hidden in plain sight. You see, it was also southern Virginia during a time of prejudice, segregation and sexism. Yet the film tells the story how, in spite of the barriers these women emerged and played a crucial role in the program that sent John Glenn into orbit and for many years after. Fortunately, there were at least a few people who saw beyond their gender and race to utilize their skills.

The story of Jesus’ transfiguration shows there’s far more to him than meets the eye as well. Jesus goes up on the mountain to pray, taking his executive team and inner circle, Peter, James and John along with him. There he is changed into a glorified figure and joined by two Old Testament VIPs, Moses and Elijah. Now, it has been posited that Moses and Elijah represent the Law and Prophets respectively. That may be true, but more to the point, as God’s eschatological—or end time—figures, by their presence they confer the same status on Jesus. Jesus is someone who is a part of God’s plan to bring all things to completion.

Mirroring the events at his baptism, the divine cloud overshadows the scene and the heavenly voice emerges. However, this time the voice speaks not to Jesus but to the disciples: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” And in typical fashion, Jesus’ followers are baffled, confused, stunned to silence and afraid to ask him about what is going on.

Since the beginning of Epiphany we’ve said that Luke is answering the question, “Who is this Jesus?” We’ve heard that Jesus is the long-awaited one and God’s beloved Son who calls us to deep waters of faith. We’ve learned that he is the fulfillment of scripture and the one who rightly interprets that scripture. We’ve also heard that Jesus has the authority to speak a powerful word of healing and new life; is not always who we expect him to be; and who forgives sins. Today, as Jesus prepares to turn his face toward Jerusalem and the fulfillment of his mission to love and bless the world through us, we learn that Jesus is the one to whom we must listen.

Now, anyone who has ever been in any kind of relationship—in other words, all of us—knows that listening is hard. And, although we have the benefit of listening to Jesus this side of the cross and resurrection, we can be every bit as confused and clumsy as those first followers. However, we learn today that like them, listening begins in awed silence. And even though listening takes humility, hard work and is an iffy proposition at best, we still do it. We listen because very often Jesus is present in the most unexpected places, just as those three black women were as it took some people willing to risk listening to see the treasure in front of them.

When I came to Grace six and a half years ago, I learned of plans to hire a youth worker and move the offices. I asked the council to hold off on those plans so we could do some deep listening about what God is calling us to do. I said I didn’t know what that was, but that together we’d figure it out. That figuring out involved a lot of listening to Jesus through others. The Shepherding Team brought forth recommendation that involved major program changes as well as a call to John Odegard as Minister of Discipleship (and now vicar).

The listening also included building suggestions to support the God’s mission and ministry through this place. The council, after listening to you, activated the Dream Team, who listened deeply and widely to groups both inside the church and in the community about how we could serve better. The Dream Team passed on a vision to the Building Team who has developed concepts with the assistance of an architect.

Following our service, we’ll decide whether to proceed from this listening to a capital campaign in order to support the renovations. Now, I’m not going to insult you by telling you how to vote. What I am going to ask is that you prayerfully listen for Jesus’ voice and be led by the Spirit. Listen to him. Amen.