SERMON:
Mountaintops and Flatlands
Luke 9:28-36
Pastor Robyn Hogue February 10, 2013 Skyline Presbyterian Church
The
2010 drama film The Social Network
portrayed many interesting features of Mark Zuckerberg’s development of his
online creation. But they missed a big one: the name he chose for his baby, Facebook. Let’s face it: humans
are obsessed with the unique, defining nature of our faces. The arrangement of
our eyes, nose, mouth, chin, cheeks, forehead, never ceases to amaze and
fascinate us. More than 5,000 distinguishable facial expressions have been
identified, and that is probably just a start on our study of the human face.
Some have called the human face “the most entertaining surface on earth.” How
could we possibly resist pursuing and endlessly perusing an online site called Facebook?
We recognize
friends — and enemies — by their face. Bank robbers wear masks to hide their
faces, knowing full well that, no matter how clear the surveillance pictures of
their bodies might be, without a full view of their face, they cannot be
accurately identified.
When the
Protestant Reformers came across images of the saints and the Virgin Mary, they
defaced them on paintings and had their faces gouged out of carvings and
sculptures. Babies look at faces — learning how to put the pieces together and
how to recognize and trust the familiar, and reject and be fearful of the
unfamiliar. It is in our human nature to look into the face of others for
critical, life-preserving, information. We find ourselves in the faces of
others. We become human through our relationships with others. In short, long
before virtual life, human beings were walking, talking Facebooks.
Our language
reflects this fixation. We speak of taking things at “face value,” or of doing
an “about face,” or of “facing off” against opponents. We “face the music” and
when dishonored we “lose face.” “Face cards” carry the most value and to stand
“face-to-face” with another signifies being in the most valued of positions.
One of the most advanced new computer identification techniques is the science
of “facial recognition,” namely, computer programs that can scan and identify
individual faces without any other physical information.
In the
transfiguration scene described in this week’s gospel reading, Jesus’ face
shines. He is transfigured and transformed by a glorious presence.
God’s glory is seen physically upon Jesus’ face, which is the focal point of His
humanity. Jesus’ face shone so gloriously and was so illuminated that even His
famously clueless disciples could see and report about its radiant nature.
And if we are
students of the Old Testament, we will be reminded of another transfiguration
scene with a glory-gleamed face—the face of Moses after he had finished
conversing with God on the mountain and after he had received the commandments
of the Lord. When he came down from the mountain, the Bible says, “Moses’ face
shone” with the wondrous wattage of God’s glory.
It was so
obvious that it was off-putting. The people were afraid to approach Moses
because of his transfigured face. So Moses veiled himself, veiled the glory,
played down his face-to-face encounter with the Lord. Instead the people
focused on the Laws, on the tablets, on the guidelines God had given. In other
words, the glory of God’s presence and ultimate purpose was subtly screened —
“veiled” from public view.
Yet elsewhere,
throughout the Old Testament the faithful are urged to seek out the face of
God.
Seek the lord
and His strength, seek His face continually. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
If My people,
which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My
face . . . then they will hear from heaven. (2 Chronicles
7:14)
When Thou said,
“Seek My face,” my heart said, “Thy face, Lord I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8)
Seek the Lord,
and His strength: seek His face evermore. (Psalm 105:4)
These texts urge
those faithful to the Lord to seek His face — to be on a continual quest for
that moment of face-to-face recognition. Seeking God’s face, getting a glimpse,
a shadow, a suggestion, that is the spiritual quest God calls His faithful to
follow.
And we now have
the most powerful of guides on this quest. No less than the human face of God,
the Spirit of Christ, will guide us on our journey to the face of the Father.
This Spirit is present in us and presented to us as we participate in the Body
of Christ, the incarnated presence of our Lord. Through the incarnation of
Christ’s spirit we all are invited to a “sneak preview” of God’s image as we
live our lives.
Whether we are
on a spiritual mountaintop or living in the ordinary days of the flatlands, we “reflect,”
we “mirror image,” Christ’s presence, the very face of God, to each other and
to the world. But, like mirrors, the Christ-body community is not a perfect
representation. There are always ripples and wrinkles, distortions and
disjunctions. Yet, the reflection is still there and shows the world what might
be.
As disciples,
each of us has been “transfigured” by our holy encounter with the Holy Spirit
and by the person of Jesus Christ. We are different. We have been called to
reflect the face of God to this world. Our humanity has been “transfigured”
into a life that reflects the radiance of God’s presence, as the “face” that
God puts forward to the world.
Yet, a central
mystery, if not a major irony of Christianity is that we who have been sent by
Jesus into the world as transfigured people don’t cease being ordinary people,
vessels of clay, even though we are entrusted with a gospel of gold. We comport
a glory that is not ours, with the greatness found in the gift and Giver, not
the bearer of the gift.
What is this
“face” we are called to present to the world? Throughout the scriptures there
is one overwhelming “facial” quality that is extolled: love. Love God. Love your
neighbor. Love others and love the other.
Love is patient,
kind, never boastful, envious or proud. It is not rude nor self-seeking. Love
is not easily angered; keeps no records of wrongs. Love rejoices in the truth.
Love always protects; always trusts; always hopes; always perseveres. Love
never ends. (I Corinthians 13: 4-13)
The bit hit
movie of this winter is “Les Miserables.” It is a musical based upon a two
hundred plus year old novel about France. Doesn’t sound like it would translate
to 21st century American culture very well, does it? But it does. I’ve seen it.
It does.
For me, the
musical highlight of the show reveals that the story has never been about
history, or politics, or economics alone. In the finale musical number, the
“heroes,” Fantine, Eponine and Valjean, sing together about that which has
transformed, transfigured, their lives from drives of desperation to hopes of
higher aspirations. Listen with me to a piece of the lyric:
Take my hand,
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person is to see the face of
God.
Did you get
that? “To love another person is
to see the face of God.”
Love will
require courage and strength. Love will mean we speak up and work toward
justice. Love will mean we give our best for another person’s best interests.
And in doing so we will reflect the face of God.