This Sunday's sermon

 

Mountains and God—Last after Epiphany

        Everything we heard today—from the collect to the Gospel has a mountain in it.

        I grew up surrounded by mountains in southern West Virginia.

        Litchfield is one of the highest spots in Connecticut at 1080 feet above sea level.

        Anawalt, where I grew up was 1706 feet above sea level. And it was in a valley surrounded by mountains another 1300 feet tall.

        The God of the Jews is found on mountain tops.

        When I was a kid,  I would climb up one of the mountains and sit on an abandoned strip mine. I’d look down at the toy sized town and feel like a lesser god myself—as if I could wipe Anawalt out with my foot.

        God called Moses to go up the mountain to meet him. Exodus tells us Moses went through a cloud and the glory of the Lord ‘was like a devouring fire’.

        The lesson from second Peter tells the same story as Mathew’s gospel. Peter, James and John accompany Jesus up a high mountain, where Jesus is transfigured and made to shine dazzling white while talking to the long-dead Moses and Elijah.

        Then out of a cloud, God speaks to them, saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved: with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

        God’s voice causes the disciples to fall down, full of fear.

        After Jesus touches them and tells them not to be afraid, he also tells them to tell no one what has happed on the mountain until he is raised from the dead.

        They kept it secret until Peter tells the crowds about it in today’s Epistle.

        Next Sunday, Lent begins.

        Lent may seem a long way from a mountain top experience, but Lent will lead us there.

        We will meet with God during Lent.

        Ponder that for a while.

        Ponder meeting God where Lent leads us.

 

Amen and Amen.