Thursday, August 6, 2020     Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord    (today’s lectionary)
This bowl is in a thousand pieces
Those visions in Daniel 7 are something else. Here we are with the King of Kings, the Ancient One.
The hair on his head was white as wool.
So far no big deal, That’s me. That’s Margaret.
His throne was flames of fire with burning wheels,
And a surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat.
Ok, that’s not us. Then
The court was convened and the books were opened.
Things seem very much in order!
Daniel’s vision continued with the Son of Man, which of course is what Jesus called himself any time he could.
He received dominion, glory and kingship.
His everlasting dominion shall not be taken away.
I personally want to be standing in Daniel’s fiery court of thrones. Our lives right now could use a dose of ORDER. Too many disorganized feelings, CO-VID dread rising out of the dawn’s miasma, dreams roiling, sparking remembrance, uncertainty, fear.
Marc’s out of the hospital, though. A bit of order there. Margaret is sleeping better, a bit of order. But the last few days have recoiled on us, and little things got big.
Just now I finished my counseling and came upon a sign Margaret made before she went to sleep. Today she indeed bore the brunt of the uncertainty and chaos in our lives, while I just did my work. I was the lucky one. The sign read (see the link), “Stop, Help! Bowl in 100 pieces.”
The sign said “bowl,” not life. And it was in many more than a hundred pieces, one of those white Corelle fruit bowls that don’t break until they do, and then it’s in a thousand shattered shards and crumbs.
But really, that’s not true of life even when it feels that way.
Sometimes it’s just right to ask for help, and Margaret did get out the broom for me. I imagine she kind of crumbled like the bowl when it fell, and this time finally shattered. In the quiet of our kitchen, the broken bowl cleaned up pretty well.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord
And the heavens proclaim his justice
See his glory, how he is exalted above anything else we call a god!
These stories, and of course the transfiguration story, remind me how great God’s motivation is to give me (all of us) life and teach and carry me (all of us) into eternity. I ask myself what my purpose is, what I shcould be doing with my one wild and precious life, and get pointed back to God’s purpose rather than mine.
Turn away from the mirror, David, and look more closely at me. Can you see what Daniel saw? Or Peter even?
Peter was thrown out of step when he saw Elijah and Moses. What what what?
What?
I thought I was living a simple life with Jesus, learning stuff and watching miracles every day, but now! This is more like God just comes down and pours fire out around Jesus, and here I am looking for any kind of idiotic words. Can I make a tent for you guys?
By the time he wrote the verses in his second letter he had pretty much figured it out.
We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
We ourselves heard the voice from heaven say, “This is my son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
Peter acknowledged others’ skepticism and challenged it head on.
We did not follow cleverly devised myths.
Our prophetic message is altogether reliable.
Jesus did his business with Moses and Elijah, of course, and his Father. But he protected his friends from their blind panic attack. In a moment he came and touched them. He said what God always tells us:
Do not be afraid.
And the best thing is when the disciples opened their eyes again, they were alone with Jesus. Those ghosts were gone. Although while scrambling down the mountain Jesus confused them again when he said he would be raised from the dead. Like Moses. Like Elijah. The ghosts.
In the courts of the Ancient One, are we all intended for resurrection?
Peter was sure of it. He insists we believe his words. Under the tough shining skin of the fisherman, this poet-prophet speaks with authority.
You will do well to be attentive
As to a lamp shining in a dark place
Until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Never and not ever. Do NOT be afraid.
(Daniel 7, Psalm 97, 2 Peter 1, Matthew 17)
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