Krista’s Reflection Transfiguration Sunday February 19, 2023
“When God Gets Our Attention”
Krista’s Reflection Transfiguration Sunday February 19, 2023
“When God Gets Our Attention”
Have you ever been “gob-smacked?” You know, awe-struck,
surprised by something that could only come from God? Something you
didn’t expect to happen. You simply showed up, or followed along, and
then something amazing happened that changed your life or the lives of
those around you?
If I told you that Jesus was about to come into this room and speak
to us, none of you would believe me, right? (For those who would,
congratulations, he’ll be here in a few minutes!).
We are so accustomed to our routines, the way things are, that
something out of the ordinary, or miraculous, seems completely out of
reach – impossible – like a mountain peak. And those moments would be
out of reach to most of us, except when God takes the first step and
brings them closer or invites us in – as Cheryl referred to last week
(thank you, Cheryl).
Sometimes we get a mountaintop experience, “When God gets our
attention.”
In our first Bible story today, the Israelites are roaming around in
the desert. God rescued them from Pharoah and parted the Red Sea,
through their new leader Moses. But now they’re wandering and it’s hot
and there’s growing impatient.
They might be thinking, “This guy Moses is not that buff, he’s a
little old, and he doesn’t speak very well. Why should we follow him?
Does he really know what’s going on? God had better do something
soon because we need a clear direction!”
God is about to get their attention.
God invites Moses up the mountain with his chosen few. God will
give him the law, the 10 Commandments. But first, God will appear as a
cloud over the mountain for six days, so the people below will know
something divine is about to happen, that his message will come from
God. (In that time, God was associated with mountains, thunder, clouds,
lightning, awesome or life-threatening natural events.)
So God invites Moses up, and Moses obeys. There he waits forty
days and forty nights for God to do something. (Yes, another 40 days +).
In the Gospel message today, Jesus also goes up a high mountain
(1300 years after the time of Moses). He invites only a few of his chosen
disciples –Peter, John, and James. (The last time we heard Jesus on a
mountain he was delivering his famous Beatitudes to a growing crowd.)
This time it will be a secret, only for the inner circle. Jesus has already
revealed some of his miracles to the people (like the fishes, and loaves),
but most of the disciples still don’t get it. And some are afraid Jesus will
be killed, drawing all this attention to himself, and angering the
authorities.
Jesus needs to reassure them – show them who he really is, that he
is from God, so when it’s his time to die, they will know he will come
back just like he told them.
At the beginning I asked you if you’ve ever been gob-smacked, or
should I saw “God-smacked,” because that’s what it feels like.
I’ve had several encounters with God, some everyday experiences
when I am praying and other more mountaintop experiences that
changed my life, or the lives of those around me.
One comes to mind that is very recent.
A friend reached out who knew I was a minister, and that I did
prayer or healing work. She had a friend who was in the hospital, a
mother in her 40s with two children. The woman was in ICU, she had
several issues working against her. She was unresponsible, in a coma
and on a ventilator. It was a scary situation for all.
My friend asked if I would be willing to do a prayer session with
the family, and I agreed. They didn’t tell me much else, so we did a call
on zoom with people in different locations, including her children. I had
no expectations but to just be there and connect to God, pray with them,
offer healing and support, and hope for the best.
They were such a loving family, everyone showed up and was so
devoted, they poured themselves into that hour. But then it was over, and
I said goodbye and let go.
A few days later I got a message from my friend saying the woman
woke up from the coma and was up in bed joking around spending
time with her kids!
I was GOD SMACKED!
For me, that was a miracle.
We all hoped and prayed this would happen, but none of us
expected it to. It was a dire situation! As humans, we often hope for the
best but prepare for the worst.
But that’s not what happened. She woke up. Obviously that doesn’t
always happen. But sometimes miracles do happen. And we were so
grateful.
There are many other stories like this – and I’m sure you have your
own. When God got your attention, and you really felt like you were in
the presence of God or God intervened.
So, God also got the Israelites attention. Moses came down with
the 10 commandments. He came down and his face was shining from
being in the presence of God – so much so that he had to put a veil over
his face so as not to frighten the people below.
Jesus’s face also shone like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling
white. He emanated God’s Light.
God spoke to Moses and gave him the 10 Commandments.
Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah who were supposed to be dead –
showing the disciples their great heroes of faith were still alive in Spirit.
Then God spoke to Peter, John and James saying of Jesus, “This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” An added
command so they would “Get it” and know Jesus is who he says he is,
that he comes from God.
We all don’t “get it” sometimes. We all get down-trodden, doubt,
or get distracted, busy with the details of life. Or forget God is there to
help us, to lead the way, if we are willing.
Sometimes God has to interrupt our plans, our busyness, our
distractions and lead us up the mountain – show us the truth of a
situation or reveals something we were not expecting.
Sometimes God has to bang us over the head with it so we will
finally believe! –like me!
So how can we notice when God is trying to get our attention or
have more “mountaintop” experiences like Moses or the disciples with
Jesus, Moses, and Elijah?
Krista’s Three Things
- If someone tells you something miraculous, listen. Ask yourself
am I open to believe them? If not, why not? Instead ask
yourself, what if it’s true?… - If you are hungry to have such wonderous experiences, ask God
for more miracles, or to bring you into God’s presence. Then
watch for how God shows up to get your attention. - If you want to help people who are full of doubt or uncertainty,
consider sharing one of your inspirational stories, miracles or
mountaintop moments, so others can be open to have their own
experiences. Maybe you will be the instrument to their miracle!
At the beginning I asked jokingly, “if I told you Jesus would show
up here and talk to us, would you believe it?” Think about that again.
What if it were true?
Sometimes we might have to climb a mountain in our minds before
we will accept God is with us.
God invites us, but we need to be open to have the experience, like
Moses, and the three disciples.
It’s kind of like in Prayer Yoga. First we do some physical things
like the disciples who climbed the mountain – we might need to do
things like stretching and breathing, relaxing, and getting all those
physical distractions out of the way, so that we can have a moment of
stillness with God – and enjoy God’s presence. Our own mountaintop
experiences!
So let’s see if we can experience that together in a prayer
meditation, climbing up the mountain to see God.
Meditation
Gently close your eyes, breathe….
imagine the scenery – little shrubs, little birds ….
look around – look up at the sky, the clouds, and up toward the top.
You see a gleaming light above you.
Keep going!
It’s warm and you’re starting to feel more peaceful, like
Everything is going to be alright.
Feel the healing rays calming you,
Warming your body
Taking all your cares away
Feel the beauty and light shining around you.
Notice up ahead a beautiful, brilliant light.
As it you get closer it gets brighter and brighter
And you feel calmer and more peaceful.
Now look straight into the light
And let it wrap around you in a warm glow.
Now allow yourself to hear these words emanating from the presence of
the Light.
Feel my presence
Feel our connection
You are in the presence of your Creator,
the One who saved you from darkness and evil;
the One who brings you comfort and solace,
healing and angels,
It is Me; it has always been Me, the whole time.
I have been with you the whole time.
Take a moment to listen and see how you feel. Ask if there is anything
else, then hear the answers in your heart…. PAUSE
Now gently come back, and when you’re ready open your eyes. And
take a moment to reflect on your experiences.
May we all be open to be in the presence of God’s Light and Love.
Amen.