Scripture:

Each of us, even the greatest among us, shall die. The story I am about to read tells of the events leading to the death of the greatest of the Prophets, Elijah. Before we die, most of us must find a way to give to our successor something of who we are our wealth, our wisdom, our power. When the survivor is full of love and devotion, the transition is intense. Hear now the story of the transfer of leadership from the Prophet Elijah to his successor, Elisha, as presented in the Second book of Kings, Chapter 2, verses 1-12:

Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. [2] Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. [3] The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent."[4] Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. [5] The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent."[6] Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. [7] Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. [8] Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

[9] When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." [10] He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." [11] As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. [12] Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

What do we do when we are given a glimpse into our future? Such revelations are often scary. Are we able to make the appropriate adjustments on our lives to take into account what the revelation has taught us? Or do we try to capture the moment, like hitting the "pause" on the VCR, hoping to preserve its luminescence and truth. Let's see what the disciples do when Jesus gives them a glimpse of what is in store for him, and for them, as it is told in Mark 9, 2-9:

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, [3] and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. [4] And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. [5] Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." [6] He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. [7] Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" [8] Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. [9] As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

SERMON:


It is a great privilege to serve God as a parish minister. Over time, as trust deepens, people have shared with me experiences which they don't often reveal to others. Many of these are epiphanies dazzling glimpses of God that are gone as quickly as they appear. Because of these confidential discussions, I am convinced that having a profound religious experience is part of each person's life. Yet, for the most part, we pay little or no attention to these nuggets, leaving them to simmer in the center of our soul. When children have these experiences, they often comment by asking a question. This begins very early in life, and continues until a grown up gives them the message that by asking an unanswerable question these children are making everyone feel uncomfortable. After a while, the child's window on her soul begins to cloud over.

As adults we usually keep these experiences to ourselves. Many of you have read books on spirituality by Morton Kelsey. Years ago, he did a survey of Roman Catholic laypeople which revealed that most of them had had a mystical, life-changing experience. He also discovered that few of them had ever told anyone about it. The reason they gave was that: "They would have thought I was crazy."

In our Inquirers' Classes, everyone has an opportunity to share with others how it is with them and God. I am always amazed by the depth of people's stories, and reminded that just below the surface of each of us is a beautiful, dark, virtually unexplored cavern of spiritual experience which many of us can go a lifetime without sharing.

I emphasize these tunnels to the transcendent for two reasons. First, because I believe that such experiences are universal, I am persuaded that the primary difference between a religious person and a person who does not think of herself as religious is that the religious person allows herself to be influenced by these experiences. Most of us would do well to take more time to look at our religious life to attend to the ways in which God is breaking in on our lives and where shall we do that, if not here in church?!

Secondly, if we tune in on those times in our life when we have glimpsed the eternal, or caught a glance of God, we will discover how profoundly the two texts which we have just heard can speak to us.

The story of Elijah and Elisha focuses on the transfer of power from one great leader to the next. Because life is always changing, we are all involved in such transfers all the time. Usually though, it's a little less obvious. Yesterday, we held a retreat for church leaders. Two of our revered elders who have each been members at Plymouth since the 40s commented that they had each sat in their respective pews for the better part of five decades, but recently, with so many new families in the church, unless they arrive a little early, their favorite place might be taken by an unknowing visitor or new member. In one case, the younger family happens to be third generation Plymouth Church-goers so they represent continuity of a different kind. To anyone who has received half a century of comfort and challenge from a distinct position in the pews, to be uprooted, however unintentionally, is startling. Upon reflection, I think that this story offers renewed motivation to greet the person next to us, or behind us, and learn a little about his or her history here at Plymouth.

Let me share another story about transition. From the time my oldest son, Luke, began kindergarten until we moved here last year, he and I ran the mile long Fun Run sponsored by his elementary school every spring. It was a distinct opportunity for me to pass on to him my love of sport, competition, and attitudes toward the body and performance. When he was in third grade, on one training run, he accelerated so fast with 200 yards to go that I could not catch him. I smiled as he sprinted, thinking that the day was soon coming when his abilities in running, and in many other areas too, would eclipse mine . . . . and that someday, the time would come when he and I would fondly remember such runs, as I lie on a bed, ready to pass on to whatever God has in store for me in the next life.

This was just a momentary glimpse of the future a revelation amidst adrenaline, endorphins, and exhaustion. But I will not forget that moment however brief it was. It revealed a portion of truth, and in it, I touched something of the meaning of what this life is all about.

Elisha is anxious about what the future will hold without his mentor, Elijah. Elisha pledges not to leave Elijah's side, for fear that Elijah will be taken without Elisha knowing. It is a story each of us can embrace, for each one of us would do most anything to be by the side of a loved one during the final moments of that person's life. As these two prophets move from village to village, they are actually descending lower and lower from the high regions to the wilderness of the desert floor. Thus, they are removing themselves from the arena of ordinary life, because they have some extra-ordinary matters to resolve. Finally, knowing that he himself is near death, Elijah asks if there is anything which he can do for Elisha. The opportunity is not lost on Elisha. Immediately, Elisha asks for a double share of Elijah's spirit the same spirit that allowed Elijah to bring life out of death (1 Kings 17:17-24), to confront kings and destabilize established power (1 Kings 21: 1-24), and to engage rival gods so that the truth of the God of Israel might be revealed (1 Kings 18-19). This is not because he desires to out do Elijah, but because in Hebrew tradition the elder son receives a double portion of inheritance, and Elisha, although he is not a begotten son, is prepared to take over as the senior prophet of Israel.

Elijah cannot underwrite such a request. The spirit he possesses is God's blessing which rests upon him it is not his to give. This reminds me of the kinds of assurances which so many of us desire when we find ourselves in a spiritual crunch. We may want a sure sign that our prayers have been answered; or that a friend has been physically healed, or that our children will be safe from harm. As Elijah points out to Elisha, these are "hard" requests. Elijah offers a chance for the spirit, and a test that will indicate to Elisha if his request has been granted.

Amidst the tenderness of their intimate conversation, alone, yet together in the wilderness, they are suddenly separated by a fiery chariot, which steals Elijah from his successor, and launches Elisha into fits of grief. It is an event of wonder unrivaled in all of Holy Scripture.(1) And amidst the pyrotechnics, Elisha does in fact continue to see Elijah as he ascends, until he finally goes out of sight. Then, knowing that the torch has been passed, and that he, Elisha, has received a double-dose of spirit (and with it, a double dose of responsibility) Elisha rents his robe and cries. To this aggrieved soul now passes the power and authority to witness to God's greatness.

Each of us undergoes a similar transition. From our parents, or perhaps from a beloved mentor, we receive a dose of spirit. If their death is imminent, the intensity of our feelings can hardly be measured. Of course we want a double-dose of their spirit. After all, how else will we be able to carry on their special legacy? Yet it is one thing to want to receive that spirit, and quite another thing to be qualified to know what to do with it IF and when we do receive it.

Such is the case with the three disciples whom Jesus selects to accompany him high up a mountain. Without any warning, Jesus is transfigured before them. This is Jesus' way of attempting to get through to the disciples, who up to that point had been rather thick headed and resistant to Jesus' teaching. Just before this passage, Jesus reveals to the disciples his identity as the Messiah, but adds that he must suffer many things, and be rejected, and killed. (Mark 8:31) This contradicts everything the disciples understand about the role of the Messiah.

But then it gets worse. Jesus tells them that if they are to be his disciples, each must deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Jesus (Mark 8:34).This last bit of instruction has them reeling!

Six days later, in the passage we read a few minutes ago, Jesus takes his three lead disciples up the mountain. If Jesus could not get his message across to the disciples by teaching them, perhaps he could get it across through a brilliant show of light and sound. So he gives them this glimpse, in which Jesus engages in conversation with Moses and Elijah with the law and the prophets and God's voice from a cloud addresses Peter, James and John to assure them of Jesus' identity. Without a doubt, this brief glimpse into the future, this peek at what is to come, is offered as a way of elevating the disciples out of their confusion.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work. Peter's bungling continues when he suggests erecting some buildings to house the images which are only fleetingly present. He wants to freeze frame the event. Perhaps they could run down the mountain and bring the other disciples up to see; maybe he just thought that it would make a good photo opportunity. But even Mark's narration tells us that he was simply blabbering in the midst of fear.

So back down the mountain they go; back to healing, and casting out demons, and further examples of the disciples not understanding what their lives are caught up in. Jesus is exasperated, and at one point says, "How much longer must I put up with you?" (Mark 9:19). Jesus tries to teach them about what lies ahead, first for him, and then for his followers, but the disciples do not understand, and are afraid to ask him further questions (Mark 9:32).

The middle section of the Gospel of Mark begins and ends with Jesus restoring sight to a blind man. Amidst the healing, Jesus tries to lead the disciples from their blindness, both by teaching them, and by being transfigured before them. Although he restores the sight of the two who had been physically blind, Jesus fails at his attempt to enlighten the disciples.

If the transfiguration didn't work for the disciples, perhaps it can work for you and for me. It offers a glimpse into the reality of who Jesus is. It comes to us mid way between Jesus' birth and his death on a cross as a wake up call. Though it is only a brief glimpse, if we are able truly to see the reality which it presents, it offers us all the assurance we will ever need to face whatever hardship or challenge life can present.

The key to this is to allow ourselves truly to see what is being revealed not only in a story about what happened to some disciples 2,000 years ago, but to pay attention to God's continual flirtation with our lives. Only rarely does God bowl us over. More often, we are courted with subtle encounters, alluring gestures that can often be explained away. We need to get into the habit of cherishing the times we are given such peeks behind the curtain. How different our lives would be if we gave as much energy to these encounters as we do to such attention getters as the Simpson trial.

Like Peter, when we catch a glimpse of God's glory, we often want it to go on forever. It is, after all, an ecstatic experience. Whether it's an anthem sung especially well by the choir, or a hug from a loved one, or a memory of an hysterically funny moment with your best friend, or a panoramic view from a rocky ledge we want to extend these experiences, and basque in their warmth.

But we can't. The most we can do is cherish these moments by recalling them AND speak of them to others.

As we leave the season of Epiphany and prepare for Lent, let us give thanks for every epiphany through which God has broken into our lives. And let us decide to make a special place for these experiences not as relics on a dusty shelf where we park the moments of our life we cannot explain

• but as glimpses of the future,
  
  
• as it breaks in on our present lives;
  
  
• as promises of what lies ahead;
  
  
• as signals of transcendence which render all the other experiences of our lives to their true proportions.
  
  
  In this way, we shall receive a double portion of God's spirit: for our lives will be so much richer because we will welcome and affirm these moments of revelation; and those we touch will recognize in us a difference. It is the difference that can make all the difference in the world and beyond. Amen.