Father Gary’s Sermon

Inspired from Matthew 17:1-9

Proclaimed on February 6, 2005

There is a legend from many years ago about an ancient people who lived at the base of a mountain. They worshipped a wax god that was housed in a circle of stones on top of the mountain. There the air was cool and crisp. However, as time went by the people became complacent in their worship. They grew weary of having to make that arduous climb to get to the top of the mountain. The clergy, therefore, growing concerned, decided to make their god more accessible by moving down the mountain. They placed it in the marketplace of the village. This made worship so much more easy and convenient for the people. For them, worship was no longer the bother that it had become. However, what they had not counted on was the difference in the climate, as well as the altitude. The air being warmer in the village at the base of the mountain, the wax in their idol began to melt and lose its shape. As it would begin to sag in places, the people would vainly attempt remolding its features. Soon it became apparent that the god began to take on different features. Indeed, these new features were remarkably similar to that of the people. At one point it was even given a smiley face. At last the weather became so hot that the god became a shapeless form. Soon after that, it completely disappeared!

The Gospel lesson for today is of a similar type. Jesus has taken his disciples to the top of a mountain for a spiritual retreat. This event takes place shortly after Peter had declared that Jesus was the Messiah. This brought about the highest complement that Jesus ever gave a person. It is sometimes referred to as the “Great Commendation.” However, when Jesus began to explain what being the Messiah entailed, it was clearly apparent that this did not fit the understanding of Peter. Like the people of the village remolding their wax god into their own image, so Peter was doing with Jesus. It was at this point that Jesus gave his harshest words ever spoken to another person. These are sometimes referred to as the “Great Condemnation.”

Jesus was obviously very patient with Peter for he included him on this mountain retreat. Peter, on the other hand, had not learned his lesson very well. Soon after Jesus was transfigured before them Peter wanted to build sanctuaries for this wonderful vision. It was as though he was trying to squeeze this magnificent event into his own mold. This time he was stopped by God, who spoke to them out of a thick cloud that had just enveloped them. The voice simply said, “Listen to Jesus!” With this all of the disciples were silenced. They were not going to be allowed to mold Jesus to their prescriptions. Indeed, it was evident that while it was Christ who was transfigured before them, this event was intended to transform them. They were the one’s being molded and prepared for the mission of the Lord.

This is the great culmination of the season of Epiphany. Today’s epiphany is that we continually try to create God in our own image. Indeed it is the cornerstone of our sinful human condition. We are always trying to mold God to make Him more convenient and palatable. We may do this by how we choose to worship God on a golf course rather than with the saints gathered. We may even change our theology to reflect a greater and more sophisticated cultural or scientific orientation, though the Scriptures speak plainly otherwise. With human idols this is not a problem. However, when dealing with the living Lord, it is well nigh impossible. We are not the creators! We are rather the created. As the created, we are being prepared for the Cross. This will be clearly evident when we come forward to receive the Holy Eucharist. Here the Bread and the Wine will become the Body and Blood of Christ. The transfiguration will occur once again—this time in our midst. His death gives us new life! As with those early disciples, Christ will be transfigured for us so that we—not God—may be transformed!