St. Paul’s United Church Sunday, February 18, 2007

Transfiguration Sunday

Mountain-Climbing with Jesus – Rev. David Mundy

Exodus 34:29-35 Luke 9:28-36

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A couple of weeks ago one of the Toronto television stations ran a series during its evening news program about the attempt of one of its reporters to climb Africa’s tallest mountain, the famous Mt. Kilimanjaro. At nearly 6,000 metres or 19,000 feet, Kilimanjaro is a formidable challenge and so we as viewers got to sit in the comfort of our living rooms and watch others work hard.

From what I could see the trekkers had the best of equipment, as well as guides to assist them. Several of them were young and fit, including the reporter. Even so, it was a demanding climb. As the air became thinner during the ascent breathing became more difficult. The climbers were obviously cold at times and altitude sickness slowed some of them to a halt. The advantage of television is that we could witness their struggle, and not all of them made it to the top despite the preparation and support.

Of course others did, and making the summit was a “high” for those who were successful. The reporter was one of those people who didn’t, but it was still a worthwhile experience for her to have made the attempt. No doubt most of them would be able to describe the spiritual quality of striving for the mountaintop.

This is the last Sunday before we begin the season of Lent and this day always has the same theme and the same name in the Christian calendar– Transfiguration Sunday. That’s a mouthful and it is one of those “churchy” names which may not make a lot of sense to us. It refers to the way Jesus’ countenance was changed when he climbed to the top of a mountain with three of his disciples and had a mystical experience which the gospel writers. As you heard, while Jesus was praying “the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white,” and he was encompassed in what is described as “glory.” In other words, Jesus was transfigured.

It might be more helpful, though, to call this Mountain-Top, or even Mountain-Climbing Sunday because the readings we listened to today are about spiritual experiences at the summits of mountains.

Moses climbed by himself to the summit of Mount Sinai in the Judean wilderness as the people of Israel made their way toward the Promised Land. Not only did Moses have his moment of glory in the presence of God, when he made his way back down again he had within him the stone tablets containing the moral and ethical code which we know as the Ten Commandments.

It seems that Moses was forever scaling mountains. He had his Burning Bush experience on a mountain and while he didn’t make it across the Jordan and into Israel he climbed Mount Nebo where he could see the land God had promised them in the distance before he died.

As you heard Jesus climbed a mountain as well, although we aren’t sure which one. The speculation is that is was Mount Hermon, which is to the north of the Sea of Galilee and the area where Jesus spent a good part of his ministry. Hermon is “only” 9,000 feet high, but it would still have posed a considerable challenge. It is virtually the only place in Israel where the snow stays for an extended period in the year and there are actually ski hills there today. Imagine attempting this climb in sandals and togas!

Jesus wasn’t alone when he made his ascent. The three disciples he called first, Peter and James and John, were chosen to go with him and it sounds as though it was tough going because the text says that when they got to the top they wanted to lie down and sleep.

Instead they were privy to an extraordinary experience which occurred while Jesus was at prayer. Suddenly two other mountain-climbers from their faith history were with them, Moses and Elijah. We’re told that this encounter is both terrifying and glorious at the same time. They even hear a voice which says “this is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Are we prepared to go mountain-climbing with Jesus? Through the years I have preached sermons about the exhilaration of getting to the spiritual mountaintop, and on the let-down of returning to the ordinariness of life after our peak experiences, but it has never really occurred to me to talk about the challenge of getting to the top in the first place.

We all know the phrase “a mountaintop experience” which describes an exhilarating moment in our lives when we are able to get the panoramic view of what it means to be human. Those experiences might include graduation from school at various levels, or a promotion at work, or the birth of a child. It might have to do with the goal of losing weight or accomplishing a physical challenge such as a half-marathon. The mountaintop might be finally retiring after years of service. In each case it isn’t just the “summit” that is important. It is also the effort and patience and training and discipline to get there.

And even though we are tempted to believe the commercials which tell us that we burn off fat with only a few minutes of effort a day, or that we can achieve financial freedom by buying a lottery ticket we realize that almost always there will be “perspiration” before we get to the “inspiration.” Well, usually we understand this. A grandfather once told me about a conversation with his grandson who was eight or nine. The grandfather asked him what he wanted to do in life, and the answer was “retire!” Knowing the man I can imagine the lecture the boy got about the value of hard work and determination.

All these examples are from the everyday lives we lead, and they also apply to the spiritual life. Unfortunately we would prefer to move straight to the “highs” of our relationship with God without doing the tough climbing to get there. We are reluctant to accept that to get to where we really want to be in our relationship with God and Christ. We will probably have to be focussed and determined.

It might be unfair to say that we are spiritual “couch potatoes” with the remote in hand, but sometimes we would rather watch others making the effort of deepening their faith rather than doing so ourselves. The statistics actually support this. Poll after poll indicates that more than eighty percent of Canadians express a belief in God – always a safe bet – but a much smaller percentage pray on a regular basis and even fewer go to church or synagogue or mosque.

Richard Foster is a Quaker who has written a helpful book called Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. As the name suggests Foster looks at the traditional disciplines such as prayer and study and worship, among others. The reason he speaks of the “celebration”of discipline, which seems like a contradiction of terms, is as an encouragement to all of us that we can have the joyful, meaningful experience of Christ’s presence when we are willing to do the hard work. In his introduction he offers this:

Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.

Foster goes on to say that our spirits desire to be transformed and to develop a closer relationship with God.

Our world is hungry for genuinely changed people. Leo Tolstoy observed, “Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.” Let us be among those who believe that the inner transformation of our lives is a goal worthy of our best effort.

That may be the message for this Mountain-Climbing Sunday. We can choose to make the best effort to join Christ as our friend and mentor and saviour. There is a seminary, in Denver, Colorado that has the motto Climb Higher – Look Deeper. This is fitting considering that Denver is the Mile-High city and its airport is shaped like a group of mountains. They want to convey the sense of challenge that comes from following Jesus and becoming his disciples.

Perhaps you can ask how that is happening for you so that you can grow in faith. Do you set aside a few minutes each day to be in conversation with God, so that you can set the priorities for your busy life with God’s direction? You all heard it this morning. Jesus climbed the mountain in order to pray and it was while he was praying that the glorious, mystical encounter with Moses and Elijah took place.

We make sure there is Sunday School for our children so they can learn about being disciples. When was the last time you attended a study group so that your faith can be deepened in the presence of others who are on that same spiritual quest?

And of course there is the opportunity for worship every Sunday morning. For all of us, including the minister, coming to church can be the habit, the “same-old, same-old” comfortable experience of singing a few hymns and listening (or not listening) to yet another sermon. It could be, though, that God is ready and willing to put a new song in our hearts and lead us toward a greater wisdom if we actually open to the extra-ordinary in our midst.

Two weeks ago I mentioned that this is Black History Month and I quoted Martin Luther King Jr. I’m going to do so again because in the last speech he gave King spoke about the vision that comes from the top of the mountain. He was speaking about an issue of justice, but his words are inspiration for all aspects of the spiritual journey.

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

We are the heirs of Moses’ promises and of Christ’s promises and for this we can thank the God of the climb and the mountaintop.