THEN and NOW
Dear First Pres SLO Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Messiah, who invites us to listen to his teachings, and grow more every day into his likeness.
I’m struck by how differently some passages of the Bible sound to me, depending on when I read them. Verses that taught me one thing when I was a child now teach me something different—sometimes a deeper meaning than before, and other times a new thing altogether. It’s one of the blessings and mysteries of reading the Bible.
This Sunday we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus. (Leave it to church people to create a holiday using a five-syllable word!) It’s a story that marks an important moment in the life and ministry of Jesus—in our Presbyterian tradition it’s a Sunday with special prayers and readings. I’ve read about this event more times than I can count, and it’s meant something different to me at different stages of life. You can read it in Mark 9:2-8.
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
When I was young I was hooked by the vision of Jesus, shining brightly, having his miraculous encounter with two Old Testament characters. In seminary I focused on what it meant to have Moses and Elijah there—that it represented the Law and the Prophets in full communion with Jesus. Every time I read it I shake my head at poor Peter, who misses the point and can’t resist offering to set up a little conference center with Jesus, Moses and Elijah. When I became a dad I felt the fulness of God’s pronouncement: “This is my son, whom I love!” Finally, it’s the last line that sticks with me these days—I’m aware that I cling to times when Jesus is the only person I’m aware of.
See what I mean? The words don’t change, but we’re different every time we read them. That’s a good thing to carry with us as we live our lives and seek to grow in our faith and discipleship. This Sunday is the final Sunday before the season of Lent. My message will be on a story of Jesus offering the gift of his presence to some frightened disciples—it turns out that just having a glimpse of Jesus can soothe our fears and anxieties. As we prepare for the season to come, let me invite you to read this familiar story again. What jumps out at you? What surprises you? You might have different answers to those questions than the other times you read this story.
We will continue our gradual return to some familiar practices in Sunday worship. We’ll be saying our prayers and creeds out loud together, and in a few weeks we hope to be singing again…still with masks, and still with care for our neighbors and fellow worshippers. Pray for us as we navigate these decisions, and also as we remember how to do things that used to be second nature!
As always, stay safe and healthy. Blessings to you and yours,
Pastor John
PS: Our Ash Wednesday service will be celebrated at 6pm on March 2nd.
PSS: Here are the upcoming preaching texts:
March
6 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
13 Hebrews 12:1-3
20 1 Peter 2:22-25
27 Galatians 2:20
April
3 Colossians 1:15-20