6th August 2023
Reflection (readings below)
Today’s readings all point to the awe and glory that surround God, and that attempt to describe what God is like. Descriptions that portray God as king or ruler, point to both the otherness of God and the power of God. Words such as judgement and dominion, justice and righteousness, point to the idea that there is a right way and a wrong way of living. But how do we know, how do we learn, which is which?
The gospel story has three characters standing on a mountain top. Mountain tops are traditionally places where God is encountered – Noah and his ark on Mount Ararat, Moses on Mount Sinai, Elijah on Mount Horeb, and Mount Zion where the temple was built. The mountain in today’s story isn’t named but is thought to be Mount Tabor. These three characters – Jesus, Moses and Elijah – represent three ways of receiving God’s wisdom, God’s guidance on the right or righteous – way to live.
Moses represents the Law, the commandments received from God on Mount Sinai. These laws covered many aspects of daily life – what to do when a neighbour’s livestock escapes and damages your crops, safeguards for the wellbeing of live stock and of slaves, which foods you might safely eat, how to resolve disputes that involve physical injuries, safeguarding widows and orphans, the payment of tithes/ taxes etc. These in their day were practical laws designed to ensure justice and harmony within communities. The Mosaic Law is not unique. The Sumerians had the Code of Ur-Nammu, and the Babylonians the Code of Hammurabi, both of which are similar in character to that of Moses. Written laws may not be perfect but they do establish the means for some form of justice, and justice is key to the righteousness that God desires.
“And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” Deuteronomy 6:25
Elijah represents prophesy – and as the Letter of Peter reminds us, prophets are moved to speak by the Holy Spirit. Prophets speak out loud the truths that God wants us all to hear. Sometimes we need to hear the truth about what we are doing that is wrong and destructive; sometimes we need to hear the truth that tells us how wonderful things could be if only we followed the ways of God.
“The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:14-18
And Jesus who is the living word of God! He not only speaks, but is the embodied presence of God. In his daily life, in his actions and activities, he lives life as God wills. He is the exemplar of how we should live, and by following in his footsteps, we walk in the ways of God.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
Can we use these three sources – the law, the prophets and the living word – to understand God’s wisdom in addressing the current climate and environmental crises?
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18 This law clearly underscores everything we should be doing. It also should be a good test for the value or justice of the laws which currently influence climate change policy and action for the wellbeing of the environment. As Christians we should ensure that those laws which protect the environment and tackle climate change are observed by both ourselves, those in business and by all those in authority. There are times when it is clear that this is not always the case.
As Christians we are also called to be prophetic, to speak truth to power. When we are conscious through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that people are not caring for the world, for its environment, for its many diverse inhabitants, in the ways that God desires, we should speak out. Sometimes with words, sometimes with actions, sometimes with prayers – we can look to the actions of the prophets (often highly radical) for inspiration.
And above all we as Christians are called to follow the example of Jesus – Jesus who was attentive to the needs of all he met, who sought to heal them and to reassure them of their value in God’s eyes. Jesus who wasn’t diverted from doing or saying the right things even when it was politically incorrect or was being criticised by the religious authorities. Jesus who shared his whole life with others that they might have life in its fullness. Jesus who helped people to realise that they were called to be God’s children, all equal in God’s eyes. Jesus who taught that forgiveness was God’s unceasing gift.
We should bring all these traits, these examples to bear, when we consider each day how to safeguard the environment, how to tend and protect and love all of God’s creation.
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy. and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14
As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One took his throne;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousand served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgement,
and the books were opened.
As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
Psalm 99
1 The Lord is King;
let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 “O mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them,
yet punished them for their evil deeds.
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
2 Peter 1:13-21
I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Luke 9:28-36
Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
The Green Tau 