A sermon preached at Kowloon Union
Church on Sunday 26 February 2017, Radio Broadcast Service, by the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that
day were Exodus 24:12-18; Matthew 17:1-9.
Opening
prayer:
Holy Spirit comes to us. Open our heart to receive your word. May your
Word inspire and transform us in Your grace.
May all glory be to you God, the light
of the world. Amen.
Introduction
My father
By March
this year, my father would have passed away for 10 years.
Jesus’
mysterious encounter with God on the mountain led me to remember my father’s
mysterious encounter with God when he was critically ill in hospital.
My father
suffered from lung problems. Eighty per cent of his lung was damaged. He was
sent to the hospital when he could hardly breathe. One night his condition was
critical and he was struggling with life and death. But he was saved. The next
day when I visited him he shared with me his vision. He said while he was lying
on the bed, a man wearing a white robe came to him. This man spoke to him, ‘you
are a good man and you will not die so soon.’ After saying this he left. My
father could describe very clearly his vision. He said both my sister and I
were also present. He could even remember the exact location we were standing
beside him. After the vision in that critical night, my father recovered a bit
and was discharged from the hospital. He then confirmed his faith and was
baptized a week before he passed away. I witnessed how my father changed after
his mysterious encounter with the man wearing a white robe when he was half
conscious and half sleeping.
After that
encounter, he always mentioned about a word - truth. He said with truth inside
his heart, life becomes so different. At that time I had no idea what he meant
by truth because it was not a familiar word that he used.
During that
period of time, my father was in and out hospital quite often. Whenever I
visited him at home or in the hospital, he was open and ready to share his
feeling. He shared a lot of his past – both successes and failures. In those
days, he expressed his deep appreciation to our mother. He shared with me and
other sisters how our mother supported him when he was struggling hardship in
life. I was amazed by his courage to face his vulnerability and brokenness. When
he was young, he had an accident. Half of his right foot was amputated. He always
wore sock with that foot and did not allow anyone to see it. But now he no longer
hides his broken foot and broken past. He allowed my elder sister to message
his body. This was a breakthrough because he always kept physical distance from
his daughters.
During that
period of time, although my father suffered from illness, he was happy. I
believed that it was the spirit of truth inside him that set him free. He said
it was the happiest time in his life. Can you image an old man of 86, in and
out hospital, suffering from breathless moments saying, this is the happiest
time in his life?
He was relaxed
to face the reality of death. He had even openly talked about how he would like
his body to be buried after death. His wish was to bring his ashes back to his
home town in China. I witnessed the transforming grace my father had gone
through after his personal encounter with God.
While Jesus
and Moses encountered God in the mountain, my father encountered God in
hospital and in his illness. Mountain can
be taken as a symbol of God’s divine presence. We can encounter God’s divine
presence and subsequent transforming grace in a place
that we may not have thought of.
Of course, we may not necessarily have the
dramatic experience like Moses, Jesus, his inner circle of disciples such as
Peter, or like my father. But we still have
the opportunity to encounter with the divine power and
experience God’s transforming grace in Christ.
The word ‘transfigured’ translated in
Greek meaning changes deeply within a person.
The mountain to encounter God’s divine
presence that may bring changes within a person could be in the worships, in the
retreats, in the market, in the kitchen, in bedroom, in the classroom, in the
work place and in the demonstrations… anywhere and anytime that you can think of. But it
requires our attentions and presence.
Transforming Grace – require us to spend time with
God
Moses, Jesus
and his disciples encountered God in the mountain. Although the mountain could
be taken as a symbol of God’s presence, physical setting however is important
to help us to stay close to God. Our deliberate effort to set aside time and a suitable
venue to retreat, to pray, to speak and to listen to God is extremely important
and necessary.
We live a
very busy life in HK. Our work is demanding. Our family is demanding. The
instant news and massive information flow everyday are very overwhelming. Many
unresolved social problems, social conflicts and divisions are depressing to
many people. The advanced technology in
our hands compels us to respond immediately. Living in such a stressful and
fast moving society, we need to be spiritually aware, to slow down, and let our
soul be still and be connected to God. The Psalmist has reminded us ‘Be still
and know that I am God’. (Psalm 46:1)
Only when we
open ourselves, and prepare space and time for God, are we able to encounter
God’s full presence and receive Christ’s transforming grace.
Today is the
last Sunday of Epiphany. Next week we will start a new season of Lent. Lent is
a season to remind us to pray, to fast and to give. Lent is an important time
for Christians to walk with Jesus, in his wilderness and in his passion.
Transforming grace – Listen to Jesus
The vision
of Jesus’ transfiguration is spiritually rich and we could be inspired in many
different ways.
One of those
is about Peter’s reaction. Peter was amazed by the glorious moment when Moses,
Elijah and Jesus were all together. He wanted to keep this fantastic and
glorious moment by building dwellings. But it was definitely not the idea of
Jesus. After the transfiguration, Jesus went down the mountain with his
disciples. He went back to the community to heal the sick and to serve the
needed. God’s glory cannot be contained into a dwelling. In a similar way, the
church which is built to witness Christ and honor God should never be reduced
to a building. No matter how beautiful the church building, if the Church is
not living a life like Christ to serve the needed and to do justice for the
oppressed, it is nothing in God! Christ has called the church to bring God’s
kingdom on earth as in heaven and transform the world by his grace.
In the
transfiguration vision, Jesus’ appearance was changed and he was filled with
the divine glory. This majestic image revealed Jesus’ divinity. He was fully
divine and fully human. A divine voice from
the cloud asked the disciples to listen to Jesus, God’s beloved son, with him
he was well pleased.
In the past
few Sundays, we have heard many of Jesus’ teaching on the mount through the
gospel of Matthew. To mention a few, Jesus taught us to forgive, to love your
enemy, to give with generosity, to pray with sincerity, to take the cross and
deny yourself .
The
transfiguration vision today reminds us to listen to Jesus. Listening requires
us to remember and live out Jesus’ teaching with efforts. Jesus in his earthly
life had set a good example for us to follow. We have to listen to his words
and follow his deeds. Sisters and brothers, let us do our best. And let us also
help each other and support each other to make our life and our church bear witness
to Christ. We know we cannot walk alone.
In the vision
of Jesus’ transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared. According to biblical
commentaries, Moses represents the Law, Elijah represents the prophet, and Jesus
represents Grace. The divine voice from the cloud spoke to the disciples and
asked them to listen to Jesus. At the end, both Moses and Elijah disappeared.
Only Jesus stayed.
The vision suggests that grace is the most important. The Law and the Prophets must give way to Jesus. Jesus Christ is the new and living
way in replacing the old – He is the fulfillment of the Law and the countless
prophecies in the Old Testament.
Jesus
Christ, God’s beloved Son who reveals God’s glory and honor came to transform
the world with his grace. Jesus came to love and to liberate. Jesus’
transforming grace reminds us to challenge all rigid rules and traditions that enslave people. For example, the literal interpretation of the bible to justify
women’s second class status and discrimination against homosexuals need to be
revisited and re-examined. As Christians we need to learn from Jesus. Open our
hearts to him, the light of the world and the Holy Spirit that guide us to the
truth and set us and the world free.
From the
transfiguration vision, another episode that inspired was Jesus’ response to
his terrifying disciples -‘Get up and do not be afraid’
When the divine voice from the cloud told the
disciples to listen to Jesus, they fell to the ground and were overcome by
fear. Listening to Jesus was a great challenge to the disciples. Listening to
Jesus requires obedience and follow Christ’s way of life. Christ’s way of life
is suffering, pain and death. Before Jesus took Peter, John and James to the
mountain, he told them he would suffer, be killed but would rise from the death.
The spiritual journey with Jesus is indeed a tough one. It is a narrow road to
go.
Jesus knew
that to walk in his way is hard. But he assured his disciples by going to them,
touching them, and encouraging them by saying ‘get up and do not be afraid.’
In following
Christ’ way of life, Christians speak the truth, practice freedom of religion,
defend the weak, forgive and reconcile with your enemy…all these require us to
pay the cost, big or small. Some sisters and brothers have had lost their homes,
freedom or even their lives.
To listen to
Jesus and follow his footstep is a hard way to go. Up on the mountain Jesus
spoke to his terrified disciples, “get up and do not be afraid.” Today, Jesus
speaks to us who are frightened and hesitate to follow him, ‘Get up and do not
be afraid.’ This is the grace given by
Jesus Christ, the One who has deeply changed on the mountain top and revealed
his divinity in God’s glory.
Sisters and
brothers, will you come and receive this transforming grace from Christ, and to
make changes in your life and in your faith journey?
God bless!
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, February 26, 2017
