A moment of contemplation for yourself or on behalf of others on everything from the life-altering to the mundane.


Prayer: A conversation with The Higher Other who lives within each of us. An invitation to vent, to re-think, to ask, and to rest.

Monday, February 5, 2024

Prayers of the People: A Place of Thin ~ Last Sunday after the Epiphany '24 Yr B

For Sunday, February 11, 2024, Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9

  Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground...a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. [2 Kings 2:8, 11b]

 The Lord, the God of gods...Our God will come and not keep silence... [Psalm 50:1a, 3a]

   Even if the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2 Corinthians 4:3-4]

   And [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them...Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" [Mark 9:2b-3, 7]

     It isn't all that difficult, these days, to imagine the Transfiguration scene given all the special effects available for the making of films and television, like 3D IMAX. And, while the Transfiguration is, most likely, the focal point for this week's sermons across many Christian pulpits, don't discard the other astounding moments we're given with Elijah such as water getting parted. It is a moment easy to overlook but here it is: Elijah struck the water with his rolled mantle and the water was parted. It is surprising, to me, in its subtlety. No multitudes on a grand escape with a chasing army close on their heels. A simple: part the waters and walk on dry ground and into an ascension. 
    Many who don't remember details about the Hebrew/Old Testament may know that someone named Elijah was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire; think of the spiritual Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. But we sometimes don't equate that lift-off with ascension. Elijah didn't die. He just ascended to heaven in a whirlwind after parting the Jordan river with his cloak! Maybe we should look a little closer at Elijah. After all, as he appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration along with Moses, it seems that he and Moses had a lot in common.
    There’s also Elisha, the heir apparent to Elijah, who repeated three times when Elijah said stay here…, “As the Lord and you yourself live, I will not leave you.” Various prophets met them as they were hiking their way to the Jordan River and asked if Elisha knew his master was being taken away, 3 times Elisha replied, Yes I know; be silent. Imagine the sight of that chariot and the horses, the fire, and the whirlwind ~ would Elisha receive the inheritance he’d asked for? An epic story in so few paragraphs.
    The Psalmist is clear that God reveals himself in glory…Our God will come and will not keep silence and so we must watch and wait and know that God calls the heavens and the earth from above to witness the judgment of his people, are we prepared?
     Paul speaks of a veiled Gospel, that is, hidden from those who are perishing in the darkness of unbelieving. He tells us that the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. We are to seek the removal of our spiritual blinders that keep us tied to earth-bound distractions that keep us from knowing and proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord…the glory of God in the face of Jesus…
    Of course the main event this Sunday is The Transfiguration. It is one of the five major markers in the life of Jesus along with his Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. Each event is spectacular in its own right and each gives rise to disbelief, even among those who were present. This particular Gospel moment is located high up on the holy ground of the/a Mountain; which specific mountain is a matter of discussion and debate among scholars and tour leaders. But let us be released from unbelief and the need for factual details. Be enveloped in the mystery, in the "shekinah" [shek-ih-nah] ~ the cloud of God's glory. 
    Jesus takes Peter, James, and John on a hike up a high mountain, with no particular explanation given. Suddenly he was transfigured…his clothes became dazzling white… What exactly does that mean? Transfigured and transformed though similar are different. Jesus transfigured with a full-on external change, an outward and visible sign of the Divinity co-existing within his Humanity. When we ask to be transformed, we are asking for an internal change, an inward attitude and motivation upgrade as to be transformed by the renewing of our minds [see Romans 12:2].   
    And then, Elijah and Moses appeared and the trio were having a conversation as a cloud, the shekinah, overshadowed them, and out of it came a voice, This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him! 
     I envision the Michaelangelo painting in the Sistine Chapel of Adam's finger nearly touching God's, and on this high Whichever Mountain, I can see a brilliantly radiant, lighted figure who is suddenly at the center where Human and Divine meet and connect within. A spark ignites and The Cloud envelopes the visages of Jesus, Elijah, and Moses, and the dazzling brilliance is too difficult to look at. Take a moment to imagine the scene, breathe it all in, and just sit in the experience.
    The Light of Christ is always on and always within us. In every moment of darkness or doubt, if we choose to lift the veil we will know the Light if only a distant flicker at first. To reach the pinnacle of Christ shining through us we must listen and follow the His path, no matter how steep, rising, if only metaphorically, to a thin place where we encounter and experience the full Presence of God. A place where we meet God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is known as a “thin place,” meaning the barest/thinnest of cloud or vapor, wall, or window between our reach for and God’s Holy reach into our souls. A thin place may also be a literal place that inspires a sense of breathtaking wonder of God’s Creation and heart-peace within you. It's time for us to pry open the eyes of our souls and spiritually locate within us that place of thin connection to the Holy.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God of Mystery and Dazzling Splendor, guide us away from earthly noise and distraction to consciously seek the lifting of the Gospel veil, that we may listen, and live according to Your Word and Wisdom, in the dry and the sacred ground of our being.

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious
 RESPONSE:               Shine Your Light in and through us  

~ O God of Mystery and Dazzling Splendor, enfold the leaders of our Planet, our Country, and our Community in the of fullness of Your Spirit. Beckon and encourage all blinded minds with a heaven-sent whirlwind of spiritual fire, to illuminate the path of Your Truth, Justice, and Mercy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious
                                                       Shine Your Light in and through us                               
~ O God of Mystery and Dazzling Splendor, grant comfort and healing to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and lighten the hearts of all who give care and support. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious
                                                       Shine Your Light in and through us

~ O God of Mystery and Dazzling Splendor, ease the darkness of grief across this Earth for those we have sent ahead, who now live again in Your eternal radiance. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious
                                                       Shine Your Light in and through us

~ O God of Mystery and Dazzling Splendor, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious
                                                       Shine Your Light in and through us

~ O God of Mystery and Dazzling Splendor, enliven and excite the spirits of all who lead us in Your church, that they may be a luminous beacon to guide us across this life’s troubled waters toward the wholeness of eternal life in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Christ, Most Glorious
                                                       Shine Your Light in and through us

The Celebrant adds: O God of gods, Lord of All That Is, infuse us with greater strength and purpose to faithfully reaffirm our covenant with You. Arouse our desire to ascend the highest peak our souls can reach, to be dazzled by the heart of Christ ~ where Divine and Human connect ~ and to be transformed in our own hearts and minds and wills. We ask through Jesus, the Beloved Face of God; and the Mystical Breath of the Holy Spirit within us; who together with You reign as One God, now and forever.  Amen.




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