2 Corinthians 4Therefore, Since It Is by God S Mercy That We Are Engaged in This Ministry

2 Corinthians 4 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. The Transfiguration (MARK)

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one[b] on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,[c] one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved;[d]listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.

The Coming of Elijah

9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. February 15, 2015

Mark 9:2-9; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

“I Saw the Light”

Kerra Becker English

There’s an old Hank Williams song that has the refrain: I saw the light, I saw the light.

No more darkness. No more night. Now I’m so happy. No sorrow in sight. Praise the Lord. I saw the light. Good old Hank. With that classic country gospel style and twang, he recounts, as the good country gospel songs do, the story of his own transformation. It’s a familiar story. He was a sinner, and Jesus showed up. He was blind, and now he sees. He was a fool, and now he’s wisely choosing a different way. Praise the Lord, I saw the light.

Transformation stories are deep and enduring. They are crucial to human understanding whether they are sung through nasally honky-tonk music or cried out through the tears of having been there, and done that. I’m always moved whenever someone has the tremendous courage to admit that they have been through the gut-wrenching process of change that left some sort of permanent mark. We Presbyterian-types don’t always do that so freely. We are not encouraged to do so. Our statements of faith tend to be pretty bland if you ask me. There are Christian traditions out there that require the person joining that tradition to be quite clear that SOMETHING happened to get them to accept Jesus Christ into their heart. Now, I’m not sure that particular moment of ecstatic religious union always makes for enduring change, but it’s at least another step farther than we seem to be willing to go. Are we at least willing to acknowledge that we too have stories of transformation and enlightenment, true stories that have happened directly to us?

And if we say we do have them, then what in the world do we plan to do with them? Spiritual autobiographies ARE becoming a popular form of writing nowadays. At times,

I’ve thought about writing one myself, but I always get scared when I begin to imagine that my mother would want a signed copy of that book! The ones that I’ve read, and frankly the ones

I’ve enjoyed reading the most, do tend to walk for awhile on the scandalous side of life. They come from the “tell it like it is” brand of religious expose. They talk about faith AND doubt.

They talk about finally getting things right once after a hundred times of getting them wrong.

They talk about real human temptation, and falling into that temptation – multiple times over until Jesus seems to think we’ve had enough – and finally we are then able to see that he’s been hanging out in our corner all that time just waiting for us to notice. Those are the books that make the most sense to me, in part because I know just how unlikely it was for God to choose me to become a pastor. Trust me. There are probably still a few places where an announcement of what I do for a living would probably guarantee a pretty hearty laugh.

But then I think about Paul… And then I think about Peter. And even though in today’s stories, they are the ones who get it, the Bible does not hesitate to tell us that there have been times when both of them found themselves WAY off the mark. Paul understands that the light shines in us now because of Jesus. And Peter witnesses, with James and John, an incredible mountaintop moment in which the dazzling light of the Spirit shines clearly through their companion and traveling teacher in a very new way. But Paul had a past, a scandalous awful past of persecuting Christians before his conversion. And Peter couldn’t hold it together to even say that he knew Jesus on the day that he would be sentenced to death. As Oscar Wilde has been quoted many times, “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”

Wilde’s quote is my way of understanding how transformation happens in just a few words. Saints don’t get to be saints by walking the safe and secure path through life. Martin Luther even encouraged fledgling Protestants to sin boldly rather than avoid uncomfortable discussions about religious abuses by acquiescing to the usual practices. What I have noticed is that those whose lives really seem to be rooted in Christ have usually passed through some sort of test or fire in order to get there. It may be a test of human failing that brings us closer to an understanding of how generous God’s mercy can be, or it may be that fire of passionate love for

Jesus Christ and his mission to the world that leads us to risk our own lives for the sake of the gospel. Saints aren’t your most rational of folks. You can’t tell them that it will cost too much, or will be too hard, or that it could destroy them. They won’t believe you, or else they will tell you that it doesn’t matter.

Now sinners, on the other hand, desperately need to know that they are not alone, not by any stretch of the imagination. Every sinner, no matter how dastardly their deeds, is still within the realm of experiencing God’s transforming love. It seems impossible, I know. There are those that I want to think are beyond that possibility – cold blooded murderers for example, war mongers, the hate-filled super haters. I don’t want them to know God’s love, because I want that love to be reserved for kind, wonderful, transformed people like me. But God’s love is far bigger than that. It has a reach far beyond forgiving the pride and recklessness of my youth. And imagining that God is only God for people like me, well, that would reduce God to such a small entity that God would no longer be worthy of our worship. God’s love does more than just fill a room in a little church somewhere in the Center of the Universe, NO, it is working in and through the space around and between all things in the Whole ENTIRE Universe. Who am I to feel so special and unique among the saved sinners? I’m grateful for God’s love to be sure. But I must remember, God has pulled me up out of the muck and mire – more than once – so how could I say that God won’t do that for somebody else? Every, and I mean every sinner has a future – especially once they allow themselves to see the light, or know the truth, or feel God’s love – however you want to describe that aha moment.

I haven’t found the way yet to guide someone toward that moment where he or she will be able to see clearly. The only thing that seems to work – just a little bit – is to tell our own stories so that someone else will be ready to see it when it happens to them. The moments of true transformation are a lot more about God’s love than they are about willful obedience on the part of God’s people. To quote Richard Rohr – again, like I often do in preaching – God doesn’t love you because you are good; God loves you because God is good. That’s who God is. God is the one who knows when we are ready to see, and then also ready to give up the comforts that we’ve relied upon instead of God – things like our money, our success, our intelligence, or our popularity. Those things fade, and fast, but once you’ve seen the light, they matter far less than the love you will feel for God and for one another.

So if you’ve never been challenged to see the moments of transformation in your own life. Give it some thought. They’re there. If you can find the courage, talk about them. Tell your daughter or granddaughter about your moments of feeling lost and lonely so they might be willing to reach out to you when they are struggling. Tell your son or grandson about when you found out that climbing the next rung on the ladder felt like a worthless cause so they may discover their own happiness a little bit sooner. Talk openly and honestly with a friend, and watch that friendship grow. Share those moments of blessed peace that seem to come during those times of great desperation. It’s not luck. It’s God. That’s how we know God. Jesus didn’t keep his moment of pure growth in the light to himself – he brought along some friends. Paul didn’t hide in shame, he told his story, so publicly that we can read his letters still today. That’s faith – faith in a God who can do amazing things in us. Amen.

Hank Williams – I Saw The Light Lyrics I wandered so aimless life filed with sin I wouldn't let my dear savior in Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night Praise the lord I saw the light.

[Chorus] I saw the light I saw the light No more darkness no more night Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight Praise the lord I saw the light.

Just like a blind man I wandered along Worries and fears I claimed for my own Then like the blind man that god gave back his sight Praise the lord I saw the light.

[Chorus]

I was a fool to wander and astray Straight is the gate and narrow the way Now I have traded the wrong for the right Praise the lord I saw the light.

[Chorus]

Songwriters: FRANCIS ROSSI/BOB YOUNG