As promised Sunday's sermon

Transfiguration-2013

Those of you who are astute will have noticed that when I give the blessing at the end of the service it is not given as it is written in the hymn book.

There are two reasons for this: the first is that in my last parish, the church that had the early service still used the Service Book and Hymnal –it was “old school” –I learned the blessing as it was written in that service and it seemed to stick in my head for service at 11am.

The second reason comes from when I was a teenager.  On  Sunday mornings when the pastor would say, “The Lord bless you and keep you/the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you/ the Lord look upon you with favour....at this point my dad would mumble under his breath...the Lord lift up his countenance upon you   “.  So I finally had to ask, why say “lift up his countenance upon you”?

What do you think?  What do you feel?  Is there a difference between, the Lord looking upon you with favour, or the Lord lifting up his countenance upon you?

Texts for Transfiguration Sunday talk about changes of countenance.

Moses countenance changed...the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God, so much so that he covered his face when with a veil.

Jesus countenance changed...the appearance of his face changed as he was praying ie. talking with God.

Do we encounter God, talk with God, or experience God such that our countenances change?

When I ponder the phrase “look upon you with favour” – an image comes to mind of someone looking at me from afar, looking down, having approval in their eyes.  The look is like that of a teacher when one has answered a question correctly, when you have learned a new task and those around you approve, when you succeed at work at the boss is appreciative, or even a look of pity, mercy, or sympathy.

When I ponder the phrase “lift up ones’ countenance” – an image comes to me of one breathing in all that is good, a rising up, a rising of the face to shine: I see a mom or a dad coming into a room and smiling at their baby –the countenance of the parent’s face is repeated in the coo, giggle, smile of the infant.  The parent’s countenance comes from a welling up of love, free love, offered to the child – a joy, a delight; a sharing of living spirit.

How do you look after your visage, your face, your countenance?

Imagine being in the desert with Moses, waiting at the bottom of Mt. Sinai for him to come down from the mountain.  It is dusty, dry, little water.  There would be wind that at times would feel like sandblasting. The sun would make one sweat.  To see one with a shining face would be quite the contrast to the main experience of the people.  Moses’ countenance was noticed and stood in contrast to the faces around him.  It was obvious that a transformation had occurred.   In our world do we observe such transformation in the faces of others? In our own faces?  Do we see transformation in this space, after talking to God in prayer?   Most of us would say no, we do not see transformation in peoples’ faces because of prayer.

I wonder if the face, ones’ countenance, is no longer a medium to show the mystery of God, or the reflection of God.  In our world it is easy to change ones’ countenance: we use makeup, hair dye, coloured contacts, waxing or plucking, shimmering creams, plastic surgery.  Countenance is within our realm of control.

Perhaps  we no longer experience Moses’ or Jesus’ changed countenance because transfiguration is shown in a way, a state, a realm, where we have less control: a counter-cultural dimension.

If you were describe the current state of our lives, what words would you use?  “Busy” would top most lists.  We are busy.  If transformation is ever to occur would it not be something that stands in contrast to busy.  What would that contrast be?

 

When I think about  people who exhibit a transformed life, a life where their belief has changed them from the inside out, when I ponder someone lifting up their countenance, I am reminded of people who are a very real presence.   Have you ever been in the presence of someone who exudes calm?  It’s as if they have a bubble around them that just oozes a pulsing peace.  This kind of transfigured person lives from the fullness of faith and feels no need to talk, generally they listen well; when sick they will simply hold your hand, touch a shoulder, nod a knowing smile; in a high stress crisis they speak slowly, with intent and direction; at contentious meetings they bide time and offer in a quiet voice a way to re-envision whatever the discussion is about.   This type of person is a joy to be near, a delight to interact with. One feels loved and can’t explain why or what the person did to have one feel that way.  Encountering people with such a presence is like the people seeing God reflected in Moses’ face, and the disciples seeing a change in Jesus’ appearance.  It is a holy moment.

Today I invite you to take a few moments and consider that what we do here in this space is like going to the mountain.  We have come here, as a community, to talk with God; face to face.  As we pray, as we sing, as we communion, as we share Christ’s peace... picture and think, “I am talking with God.  I am changed by this encounter.”  Perhaps  you come to church believing that God looks down on you with favour because you have come; but think again, you have come to talk with God who is present.  God breathes in, through the community, and from the tips of our toes, through our beings, exploded out and fills this entire space.  God lift’s up God’s countenance upon us.  There is energy. There is a filling.  There is a sending.  You are changed, transformed.  You have been filled to go and be counter-cultural.  Go in Peace. Serve the Lord.

Wed. of this week the season of Lent begins; traditionally a time when Christians have given up something- often fat foods - in order to focus more profoundly on repentance and Jesus’ journey to the cross. For your Lenten journey this year, instead of “giving up”, face each day with a counter-cultural countenance.

Take with you the responsibility of the words, “Go in peace and serve the Lord.”

Let us pray.

God we talk with you today.

Prepared to soak in your countenance so that it may reflect in our lives.

Fed and transformed by your Word, we go into the world, faces unveiled.

In busy-ness or crisis, let us display a countenance of calm

In a time-crunched world, let us live a countenance of patience

In a matter of fact, black and white, no time to be amazed society, let us embody a countenance of wonder and awe

In a consumer driven economy, let us shine with a countenance of gratitude and giving

Where despair is spreading, let us grow a countenance of hope

Where sickness prevails, a countenance of healing

And overall, in all, through all, a countenance of  Presence.

A countenance of Love.