St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD
February 19, 2023
Year A: The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 2
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
Coming Down the Mountain
Well, I know that it really may feel like we just took down the Christmas decorations, but today we have reached the Last Sunday after the Epiphany.
And, as we do every year on this Sunday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, in today’s gospel lesson we heard the story of the Transfiguration.
Six days after Peter correctly – and maybe surprisingly – identified Jesus as the Christ – the Messiah – Jesus brings Peter and the brothers James and John up a high mountain.
There, the three fishermen disciples receive quite a sight, as Jesus is transfigured before their eyes – his face radiant and his clothes dazzling white.
And then Jesus is joined by Moses and Elijah, two giants of Israel’s past, who, it was believed, had not died in the usual way of all people.
I’m sure Peter, James, and John could hardly begin to understand what was happening – that the veil between heaven and earth had been opened – but, to his credit, Peter knows that is good to be there. Peter knows that he is on sacred ground and quickly proposes a building project – he offers to construct dwellings for Jesus and Moses and Elijah.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to stay up there forever, right?
But before Peter can even start gathering materials for his “capital campaign,” there comes the voice from heaven, “This is my Son the Beloved; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
And very understandably, the disciples fell to the ground, terrified.
And what is the first thing Jesus says to his friends, as they held on for dear life, as they clung to that holy ground?
“Get up and do not be afraid.”
And, probably with their heads spinning and their hearts thumping, Jesus and his friends come down the mountain.
Together they begin the journey to Jerusalem – on their way to the palm parade - to betrayal and rejection - to three denials by Peter who knew better – to suffering and death – and, finally, to the shock of an empty tomb and the unimaginable joy of new life on the first Easter morning.
But, in order to reach Jerusalem, it was first necessary to overcome fear, and come down the mountain.
Probably like a lot of you, Sue and I keep track of important milestones in our lives by noting them in our calendars.
A few weeks ago, she mentioned to me that it was the two-year anniversary of “Bishop’s Sutton’s call.”
That was the day the bishop phoned to let me know that the wardens and vestry had called me to be the next rector of St. Thomas’.
Bishop Sutton called quite early that day – January 29, in case you’re wondering – so early that, while I was awake and up, I think I was only about halfway through my first cup of coffee, so maybe not quite as alert as I would have liked.
I think I said something profound like, “Oh, wow.” And I was about to say that I’d like just a little bit of time to talk it over again with Sue and I’d get back to him shortly. But, before I could formulate those words, he said, “I trust you are receiving this as good news?”
And I said, “Oh, yes” – which he heard as “Yes, I accept” – which I was going to do anyway. But, without any further conversation with Sue, we were off and running.
Thinking about that memorable call, got me thinking back to my first conversation with Bishop Sutton, on a date I won’t forget: January 6, 2021.
As the Republic seemed to wobble, he and I spent about an hour on Zoom, getting to know each other and talking about my ministry and my hopes for the future at St. Thomas’.
I talked about my interest in bridging the gap between the suburbs and the city, and the work I had done in community organizing in Jersey City, focused especially on affordable housing.
I guess that sounded good enough to the bishop and, actually, it sounded pretty good to me, too.
But then I got here, and it has taken a lot of time to get to know the parish – to get to know many of you – to learn my way around the neighborhood.
And we’ve certainly done a lot together over the past year and a half, but I’ve done none of the stuff that Bishop Sutton and I talked about.
Instead, the truth is, the city just down the road from us seems daunting to me, its problems overwhelming. So, I’ve spent most of my time up here on the holy mountain, where it is certainly beautiful and I feel God’s presence all the time.
But, lately, I’ve been feeling a holy nudge.
“Get up and do not be afraid.”
Since even before I arrived here, I’ve heard about the amazing work of the Community Crisis Center in Reisterstown.
And I’ve tried to support our partnership efforts, all the different collections, including our “Bottoms Up” campaign.
But, although I had driven by many times, I had never stopped in, had never seen the center in operation, and had certainly never volunteered.
Well, about a month and a half ago, before the 8:00 service, Margaret Green and I were talking in the narthex and then, in her usual direct way, she said to me, “You should volunteer at the Center.”
I felt a little convicted, to be honest.
Yes, of course, I should volunteer at this place that is such an important partner of our church.
So, a few weeks ago, on a chilly Saturday morning, I showed up, glad to see that a couple of other parishioners there, too.
I got a tour of the center from Eileen the director.
I sensed the joyful dedication of the longtime volunteers.
I saw the long line of cars begin to form along Resisterstown Road.
And then I was put to work, distributing a small number of personal hygiene products – a roll of toilet paper, a bar of soap - only three per family – as people drove through the center’s driveway.
I wondered about all the time that they had spent waiting, only to receive what seemed to me to be so little. But, most of the clients seemed cheerful and quite grateful, though it must get old to say thank you so much.
Coming down the mountain.
And then, last week, I got a text from another priest in the diocese asking if I was planning to attend the BUILD action in Baltimore City on Thursday morning.
BUILD is Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, and is a sister organization of Jersey City Together, which I had been involved with back home.
I had known about the BUILD action, and had thought about going, but felt kind of funny about it as someone living in the County and still kind of new.
At least those were the reasons I told myself for not going.
But, I felt the nudge from my colleague, and so Betsy Wilmerding and I took the ride down to West Saratoga Street where we joined nearly 300 other people – Black and white, clergy and lay – calling on the mayor to take action on the thousands of vacant houses across the city.
Maybe you heard about this on the news.
I have no idea if this is a wise or workable plan, but I have to say it was good to be there – to hear the stories of people whose neighborhoods have been neglected for so long – to hear the passionate faith and commitment of clergy who are challenged to pastor in pastures that are not green at all.
Coming down the mountain.
Lent is now just a few days away, so there’s still time to decide on what we might give up or what we might take on during this holy season – what we might do to open our hearts to God, to allow God to work through us.
I’ve resolved to get out of the office and off this beautiful campus a bit more – to go down the mountain.
It’s not easy down there – there’s plenty of suffering, for sure – but just like for Jesus and his fisherman friends – it’s the way to Jerusalem – it’s the way to new life.
Amen.
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