sermon excerpts: "Good to Be Here" (Mark 9: 2-9)

It is good for us to be here. Peter said it on top that mountain long ago; I say the same thing from this pulpit now. It is good for us to be here.
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Peter, James and John are astounded by their trip to the mountaintop with Jesus. Still puzzling over the words of Jesus that spoke of death and sacrifice, they suddenly see that the great pioneers of faith, Moses representing the Law and Elijah representing the Prophets, in their fullest glory, are there too. They spoke with him; maybe, consulting with Jesus about the days ahead in Jerusalem.
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The point is not so much the fact that the biggest names are returning to earth from the heavenly dimension to endorse Jesus in his quest. Here we have a spectral and supernatural reminder that we are not alone. We build our present and future upon the work and legacy of the past. ...

But back to transfiguration: There’s a lot that is remarkable and unbelievable. This even proves what? That Jesus is God’s son, that we should listen to him. I think that was unnecessary. He’s already proven himself wise and compassionate, healing and performing miracles. What the transfiguration reveals is that he, too, has a connection to a bigger story, a broader tradition.

Even Jesus couldn’t do it alone. With his spiritual connection to Moses and Elijah, with his community connection to the disciples, with his eternal connection to believers and today’s people of faith, we are part of the story.

We are transfigured when we express and share our faith, our doubts and our hopes. Working to sustain and nurture our spirits, giving words to the meaning of life, our understanding of where God is, how to live as morally responsible people, how to make a difference in the world. How can we reach out and make the world a better place? How do we bring light to darkness, offer hope in the face of evil?

It is good for us to be here, whether it’s Mount Taber or Mount Hermon, Appin or Glencoe. It is good to be here together, part of a bigger picture, receiving a communal message and a shared experience, but it is not enough for us to stay here. We still need to come down from the mountain, leave Sunday morning, and engage the ordinary and everyday tasks and duties as agents of transfiguration: bringing light, radiance and love.