In all the miles they’ve walked with Jesus, they’ve seen sick
people healed, the hungry miraculously fed, witnessed personal encounters with
all kinds of people, and seem large crowds come out to hear him. They’ve also
seen plenty of controversy and asked plenty of questions.
They’ve heard Jesus praised by everyone from peasants to Roman
soldiers, and they’ve heard him criticized—even to the point of threats—by both
the rulers of occupied Israel and the religious leaders of the day.
And yet, for all that, this small band of apostles and disciples was
not yet a movement, even though people were pretty excited whenever Jesus came
to town.
For those first followers of Jesus it was the adventure of a
lifetime!
Well, as they say in show biz, “they ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”
Because when Jesus invites three of his friends to go with him up on a mountain
to pray, they are totally unprepared for what happens next!
On that mountaintop, they see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus!
And then they hear a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved, listen
to him!”
Astonished and afraid, they scramble to do something, anything, to
mark the moment! But there is only one thing they have to do: listen to Jesus!
The Transfiguration that we celebrate today is God’s affirmation of
Jesus’ humanity and his divinity. And if you want to know and follow Jesus:
listen!
It’s natural to want to remember the moment. We have baby books,
cherished mementos, and as a sacramental people we know that outward and
visible signs points us to inward and spiritual grace… but … listen.
The end of the Epiphany season is marked by the Transfiguration
because it’s the ultimate showing of who Jesus is and what he’s up to. We see all
of Jesus’ humanity and all of his divinity in the very same person, undiluted,
just as it was at his birth, his baptism, all the miracles, healing encounters,
and teaching, and in his death and resurrection. The Reign of God has entered
the world in the person of Jesus, and we are called to witness to that Good News
and invite people to come along!
The Transfiguration and Resurrection both gave the disciples the
will to persevere, something bestowed on all of us in our Baptisms. The same
God who presides at the Transfiguration of Jesus and tells us to listen to him
also promises us that one day we will be transformed into his likeness. As
baptized people, that happens every day as we learn and do the work of Jesus.
In baptizing Owen, we are initiating him into the Church, into the
Company of Christ’s people, and he will immediately become a full part of the whole
Church … not just his family and friends but the whole household of Christ’s
people in all time and in every place.
Today we are making a commitment that we… all of us, family,
friends, the community of the faithful… will do everything we can to help him
come to know God in Jesus so that he will take his place as a follower of Jesus
and become a disciple… a friend and apprentice of Jesus Christ!
And that’s why we baptize babies like Owen because we know that
Christian people are raised up in Christian households all the time!
It’s definitely a learn-as-you-go process, but Christian formation
is not a do-it-yourself project. Raising up a Christian kid requires Christian
community in addition to a faithful household. So, just as you will trust
teachers to teach, and coaches to coach, and doctors and nurses to do their
thing, you will also take part in a Christian community who will accompany you,
support you, guide you, and show you the practical nuts and bolts of how to be
a follower of Jesus.
So, I say to Owen, what I said to his sister when it was her turn
at the baptismal font… welcome to the Jesus Movement! To paraphrase our
Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, Welcome to the Episcopal branch of the Jesus
Movement!
Welcome to the Movement that saw in Jesus the fullness of God and
humanity in the same person and who listened and followed him and shared the
Good News of Jesus with people who were far off and those who were near.
Owen, today is your first trip to the mountaintop with Jesus, the start
of an amazing journey of faith that will require time, attention, and
intention.
And I also say to Mom and Dad, grands and cousins, sponsors and
siblings, help him along the way: take the time to pray with Owen, from grace
at the table to nighttime prayers. Share the stories of faith, not only from
the Bible or a book of saints, but also from your own journeys (including those
pesky questions) and stories of the people you admire. Teach him to hang in
there, even when things get rough, confusing, or are not going according to
plan.
And as you teach Owen about respect, reliability, doing his chores,
good manners, showing up for practice, doing his scales, and all the rest,
don’t forget to show him also the rituals of the life of faith, and how to look
for God in the everyday and in the people he will meet.
The good news is that you won’t have or need all the answers, because,
by God’s grace, you’ll be learning and doing the work of Jesus right there
alongside Owen. You’ll be developing with him those seven-fold gifts of the
Spirit that we will soon be praying for. So don’t be afraid to show him your
own inquiring and discerning heart; show him the courage to will and to
persevere; take the time to share the gift of joy and wonder in all God’s
works, especially as you see it unfold in this little human whom you present
today for baptism.
The Transfiguration is like every mountain top experience… we might
like to remain there, but our real task—Owen’s and ours! – is to continue the
journey as we go learning and doing the work of Jesus every day.
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