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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-03-07, Page 16THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 17. By Charmila Ireland Melville Presbyterian Church, Brussels Have you ever thought of how cool it would be to have a normal person compete in the Olympics, alongside all of the athletes at the peak of their performance? To give you a scale so that you can see just how amazing these athletes are? Sometimes you watch them, and there’s this voice in the back of your head that says, “ya, I could totally do that. How hard can jumping in a bobsled be?” But in reality… no. You can’t. What we see at the Olympics is years, sometimes decades, of training; people at the absolute pinnacle of their sport. It takes thousands of hours of practice, more time on the slopes, or the ice than you can imagine. So if they put some “Average Joe” in each sport, someone who knows the basics, it would really highlight just how amazing the professionals are. In Mark 9:2-9, we get something a little bit like that. Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him up a high mountain. And then Jesus is transfigured, his clothes become dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. There, standing with Jesus, was Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah: if ever there were two giants of the Jewish faith, it is these two. Moses stood up to Pharoah and said, “let my people go.” He led the people out of slavery in Egypt, parted the sea and helped them escape and brought the Israelites through the desert to the promised land. Moses, who taught them what it meant to worship God and brought them the commandments they were to follow. And Elijah, who stood up to an evil king, Ahab, and told him that God was going to punish him. He went toe to toe with the followers of Baal and prevailed, proving that God was greater. He taunted them to their face! Elijah, who also parts the water and walks through on dry land, then hands his ministry over to Elisha before being spirited away on a flaming chariot into the sky. These are giants of the faith! They had the stamp of approval, the calling, of God. They did great things. And yet, when Jesus stood with them, he was the one who shone brighter than bright. He one who made Elijah and Moses look like amateurs. Elijah and Moses were acting as a measuring stick for Jesus, and Jesus was greater. What a powerful statement that must have been for Peter, James and John. These were men of the Jewish faith; men who memorized and celebrated the life and works of Elijah and Moses. They recounted their deeds all through their younger years. Their very faith hung on people like Elijah and Moses. Now their teacher stood with those two men. Their humble teacher, who dressed and lived simply, was still the greater. Despite their deeds, Elijah and Moses were still men. They were human, and it was in this moment of transfiguration that Jesus’ holiness shone through his humanness: when the very divinity of Christ was on display. It was made abundantly clear that Jesus was no ordinary teacher. Nor was he an extraordinary man. Jesus is God; fully human and fully divine. Here, in the transfiguration story, we see his humanity and divinity on full display. Can you picture the display? Pan out in your mind’s eye and see Jesus, standing there shining so brightly. See the disciples trembling in awe and fear. The beauty of a mountain top, the crystal clearness of the air. Then the cloud appearing. Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Can you see it? We live in a visual culture. We love Marvel movies, with their big explosions and special effects. Or Lord of the Rings movies, with their stunning landscapes. We love the Olympic opening ceremonies, with all of their pageantry and spectacle. Those are feasts for the eyes. God said from the cloud, “This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him!” In the midst of this entire spectacle, this divine light show, the bright shining clothing and the appearance of Elijah and Moses, God does not say, “Look at him!” No. He says, “Listen to him!” I can’t help but think that this is a word for us. This word for the disciples, “Listen!” is also a word for us today. There’s a moment when you first go into a store and start to look around, and an employee or sales person approaches you and says, “Can I help you find something today?” If you’re like most people, you reply something like: “No, I’m just… looking.” It means nothing. It means, please don’t bother me. It says, I haven’t decided if I even want anything, so please don’t give me the sales pitch or hover around me. Let me look. I haven’t decided yet. Is this how we treat the Gospel? Is this how we treat the words of Jesus? How often do we read the Bible or hear the Word of God and, in our minds, do the equivalent of saying, “I’m just looking”? We say, I’m not sure this is for me. I’m not sure I’m buying it. I’m not sure I want this to change my life. I don’t need this. I already have this. Not right now. Maybe I’ll come back next week. I’m just looking. God is calling us to listen to the words of Jesus. It’s hard. The disciples show us that very clearly. Just before this passage, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” and they reply, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Jesus asks them, “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” And Peter says, “You are the Christ.” That’s right! Peter has it! The disciples have been listening. They’ve figured it out. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. We keep reading the very next passage. Alas! We were too optimistic. They’re not really ready to listen yet. Not about what it means to be the Messiah. That’s too THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com 519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn Sunday March 10 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. Worship Pastor Phil Delsaut “Is It Politics or the Tongue?” (James 3) Wednesdays (EXCEPT MARCH 13 – MARCH BREAK) 6:30-8:00 p.m. HEIRBORN (JK-Gr. 6); 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jr. & Sr. YOUTH (Gr. 7-12) Thurs. March 7, 6-8 p.m. Seniors’ 55+ Potluck - E. Russell Slides of Israel Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. Wednesday Night Kids’ Club 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm (ages 5-12) For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited@tcc.on.ca Special Speaker: Sandra Cable Accessible Sunday, March 10 Worship Service at 11:00 am Blyth United Church Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, MARCH 10 Nursery care available 519-887-6687 Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Worship & Sunday School - 9:30 am (*New time) Coffee & Snacks following the service We invite you to join our church family in: BRUSSELS United Church Worship and Sunday School Sunday, March 10 at 9:30 am Worship leader, Sandra Cable Mary Ross will be with the children! All are Welcome The Regional Ministry of Hope BLYTH BRUSSELS Trinity St. John’s 9:15 am 11:15 am COME WORSHIP WITH US! Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope St. Paul’s Trinity WINGHAM 11:15 am These Anglican Churches Welcome You Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship From the Minister’s Study The importance of the transfiguration of Jesus Continued on page 18