Sermon 1
Making the First Move
By Father Kevin Bell
You probably know the old story about Moses going up the mountain for a
meeting with God. Up there he received the commandments on tablets of stone.
With those safely in hand he climbed back down the mountain. Moses stopped
just before the bottom because he wanted to be high enough to speak out to all
the people of Israel. They were eager to know what he had to say and were all
ears. Happily they did not have to wait long for him to compose himself. So off he
went. “The good news is, I have got him down to ten! The bad news is, adultery is
still in…”
It’s an old joke but it points to something important. If - Moses and God were
horse-trading then what were they willing to trade with. Were there things they
would use as bargaining chips? I mean things of value that mattered to each of
them? On the other hand, were there things that didn’t really matter to either of
them? The kind of things they could easily let go. And finally, were there a few
special things that neither of them would offer up without a fight.
I suspect something of this was going on. Rather than just an angry god barking
orders and saying right this down, with no questions asked. After all, we are told
more than once that Moses walked and talked with God, as with a friend.
Apparently Abraham was made of similar stuff.
The thought of that makes all my job interviews seem very tame. And it makes
me realise that my relationship with God still has a long way to go, before anyone
can say of me. “He walked and talked with God, as with a friend.”
How on earth was this possible for the heroes of the Old Testament or the saints
of the New Testament? Was it a bit like, boy meets girl, and everything depended
on who made the first move? Was it always down to God to do the asking out? Or
were there times when the other person summoned up the courage to seek out
that special relationship? And if things were to go well then what were the
essential ingredients to which both must agree, before anything can happen that
is meaningful and worthwhile. You know what I mean, if we are going to stand a
chance then we are going to have to start like this…
I think we are on the right lines when look at Moses and God in this way.
Together they were setting the scene for what was to come next. Together they
were laying the groundwork on which all the people of Israel could safely build
their relationship with God. Perhaps that is why there were just Ten
Commandments and not a whole rulebook. And may be that is why adultery was
still in. We all know that the bedrock of any relationship is mutual respect and
faithfulness. No friendship will long survive if one person feels talked down to
leaving the other person with the upper hand. And no friendship will long
survive if the bond of trust is broken on either side. It’s as basic as that.
Given by Father Kevin Bell at All Hallows Twickenham. Sunday Next before Lent, 07 February
2016: appointed readings, Exodus 34.29-end, Psalm 99, 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2 & Luke 9.28-36
(37-43a)
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Now then, when Moses went up the mountain there was nobody with him. No
one dared to follow where he was going. When Jesus went up the mountain he
chose three people to go with him: Peter, James and John. And in our gospel
reading today we are reminded what happened when they got to the top. The
appearance of Jesus is transformed and it seems to his companions that he is
shinning with light. At the same time two more people appear and are standing
next to Jesus. He is talking with them but no one seems to overhear what they
are saying. Or - they have not been given permission to repeat what was said.
Either way, isn’t it interesting to note who the two strangers were. Of all the
people from the past who could have appeared, why was it Moses and Elijah?
Well both of those Old Testament prophets had talked with God when on earth.
Now they were back on earth. This time they were talking with the Son of God.
The death and resurrection of Jesus had yet to happen. So may be like an army on
the march, Jesus was pausing to discussing the coming battle. And it would be a
battle. One that would rage between heaven and earth as surely as it would rage
between love and hate, or life and death. To my mind the evidence for what was
discussed is partly revealed by what happened next. The prophets disappeared
and the appearance of Jesus returned to normal. The apostles were stuck for
words. Even Peter was reduced to saying the first thing that came into his head.
“It’s good for us to be here… shall be build a small monument made with a pile of
stones?” We can almost see Jesus raise an eyebrow before saying. “I don’t think
so…”
At that point a cloud moves and hovers over them. I suppose it was acting like a
giant umbrella shielding the human friends from the arrival of God the Father. It
is that father who now speaks. “This is my Son, my Chosen. Listen to him!” In other
words, this is who you are dealing with, so now is the time to put away any
remaining doubts and be ready for action. And that is exactly what happened
next. No more rules and regulations. Instead Jesus goes back down the mountain
and gets straight into the business of healing people. He is leading by example.
Healing our relationship with God and healing our relationships with other
people. He even corrects and heals our misconceptions or our inability to step up
to the mark when others need us most. All of this is played out in our gospel
reading today. Jesus heals the worried man’s son, and so heals the worry of that
man. Jesus then deals with the apostles who had failed to heal the very same
people. And just at the moment when they are all mightily impressed, Jesus deals
with their misconceptions. “Let these words sink into your ears. The Son of Man is
going to be betrayed into human hands.” But no one understood what he was
getting at and all were afraid to ask him further questions. They had seen enough
and that was that.
What happened on that mountaintop is referred to as the Transfiguration of
Jesus Christ. We too are called to be transformed in a similar way. I don’t mean
exactly like him. But I do think our best encounters with God should lead to our
best attempts at healing the lives and misconceptions of others. Mutual respect
and a bond of trust will form the basis of those friendships and how we measure
up to the standard of Christ. As one of my heroes used to say: “The cords of love
bind much stronger than any chains of discipline.” (Edward Pusey)
KB
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