The Tipping Point
I've been thinking about changing the color of my hair. I've seen those miracle make-over shows "What Not to Wear" and "10 Years Younger" where someone is approached on the street or at work and told they're going to New York or LA for "a whole new you."
I'm not expecting to have a beauty abduction, but I am thinking about making a major change to my hair. Why? Because I'm on the edge of a tipping point.
My tipping point has been the gradual realization, again, that the world does not revolve according to my rules. After enough of these reminders, I finally hit the point at which I want to control something. Anything. Since controlling other aspects of my vocation and life are out of the question, only my hair is left. I can be the ruler of something. OK, not the cowlicks, just the color.
Some people pray the Serenity Prayer when they're in the situation I'm in. Then they open themselves up, and change the things they can. I pray the Serenity Prayer, and I realize that all I can change is my hair color.
As you remember, a tipping point is a turning point, a critical point in an evolving situation that leads to a completely new development (1). It doesn't matter how old or young we are, we all hit tipping points. Maybe your partner left off the toothpaste cap just one more time. Or, on the bright side, maybe your exercise regimen has finally become a regular part of your life.
When you reached your last tipping point, did you change your hair color? What did you do?
(PAUSE)
Guess what? Not only do we have personal tipping points, we have tipping points in our liturgical year, and we are at one right now. We are closing the season of Epiphany with the tipping point of the Transfiguration of Christ.
Let's look at how we have gotten here. What has been the "evolving situation", and where are we in it? To figure this out, we need to think a minute about what Epiphany means. In the Church Year, it's more than just the day the three Eastern astrologers or magi came to see Jesus. Epiphany in the religious sense is
an unexpected demonstration involving [a divine] or heavenly being who reveals a divine trait, action, or message. (2)
Well, a picture is worth a thousand words. Those who think that Scripture is something in an ancient crypt will be surprised to see the following set of images taken at the scenes. These review the Gospel stories we've shared these weeks of Epiphany.
We're going to begin back just a bit before Epiphany.
(CLICK) (3)
Here's Christmas day. As you can see, there's enough mystery surrounding Jesus'
birth that shepherds come in from the fields. Some recognize Jesus as the Messiah,
but others know that Jesus is only an infant, but he's at least someone who
gets their attention. That's an Epiphany!
On Epiphany Day itself, (CLICK)
Jesus has been revealed to the Magi. As you can see in this slide, Jesus has come to dwell among us. The Magi demonstrate that the "us" is a very inclusive group. It even includes Gentiles with camels, rich and exotic clothing, precious gifts. It even includes us. I get it! EPIPHANY.
At the Marriage Feast of Cana, (CLICK)
Jesus unwillingly sets himself apart as a most unusual party guest. Although
he says "My hour has not yet come," his mother pushes him out of the
nest by telling the servants to "Do whatever he tells you." By directing
the servants with divine action, Jesus changes the 30 gallon jugs from water
to wine, the party goes on, and the servants recognize Jesus as a miracle worker.
Who witnessed this? Not the wealthy party hosts, but the servants.
EPIPHANY.
(CLICK) Oh, no. That shot's out of order. (CLICK,
CLICK)
Ahh, Nazareth. This must be Epiphany 3, Jesus is teaching in his hometown synagogue
and reads,
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor….. Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Do you supposed the Jews in the synagogue expected to hear such a proclamation at all, let alone from a local boy? EPIPHANY.
The circle of Jesus' call is widening. By our baptisms, we are all called to preach the good news of hope and love to the poor, if we're willing to accept the challenge. EPIPHANY.
(CLICK)
OK. Epiphany 4 and we're still in the synagogue in Nazareth. Look at those faces!
They're enraged! Jesus has just claimed to be the fulfillment of scripture --
but now he's telling them that he won't fulfill it for them any more than Elijah
and Elisha did for their faithless ancestors. This is not good news for them,
it's a very unpleasant EPIPHANY.
(CLICK)
The shore of the lake. On the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, Jesus cajoles exhausted
disciples to cast their nets out just one more time. Doing what he asks, they
are amazed to see the miraculous abundance of fish in their nets. Jesus' divine
message is not "Christianity will make you wealthy fishermen". He
invites them to work with him in "catching people" for the reign of
God. EPIPHANY.
Christ's circle continues to widen as he shares his work with others. For these witnesses, the Epiphany they experienced contradicts all they expected from their Messiah. They aren't quite ready to give up all their old ideas and expectations, but their Epiphany leads them to make remarkable changes in their lives.
Let's move along to the Sixth Sunday. (CLICK)
I see we are at that level playing field Luke described for us in last week's
Gospel. Jesus is sharing the beatitudes with those in the crowd. Dominican monk
Brendan Slevis tells us that:
…[T]he Greek word we translate "blessed" or "happy" is one with connotations of divinity. It is used as an attribute of God in the New Testament (1 Timothy 1:11), and the Ancient Greek poets Homer and Hesiod both use it of their Greek gods.
The humble, poor, and suffering are more than blessed, they are the image of God. The divine is closer at hand than we thought; opportunities to be graced with and give God's love are closer at hand than we thought. EPIPHANY.
And now Today. Today we read of the blinding Transfiguration of Christ. You
may want to shield your eyes as we move into the next series of images.
(CLICK)
Look at this! Do you see Jesus with Moses and Elijah? All three are in their
glories. Their faces are bright, their clothes are radiant, they are elevated,
they are in conversation. Jesus is talking to Moses and Elijah, and
he is talking to them about his impending departure from this world. Jews would
understand that the three are in a plane higher than earth but not quite at
heaven, but they would not expect to see these two, the bedrocks of their faiths,
let alone talk to them. Yet Jesus talks to them.
(CLICK) Here's the scene from another vantage point.
If they knew the term, early Christians would understand that this is the tipping point. It is the moment culminating the many epiphanies of these weeks: Jesus as teacher of love and justice who instructs through parables and by modeling; Jesus a miracle worker, Jesus as the son of God, a being far superior to us yet inviting us into his presence, to share his life.
(CLICK) Here is yet another view.
In this image we can just barely discern Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and the disciples
enveloped in a terrifying cloud. A voice says, "This is my Son, my Chosen,
listen to him." EPIPHANY, TIPPING POINT. Where
do we go from here?
On Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent. The great Epiphany of the Transfiguration shows us that our learning is almost complete. Yet we are told to "listen to him" moving forward, not backward; to listen as he speaks with words, with actions, with his suffering. Let us use this season to prepare ourselves to listen to him, and to follow him.
(CLICK)
Our last slide. We see ourselves moving almost precipitously from the tipping
point of the Transfiguration to the Passion. This period of time is a gift of
preparation for each of us. Let us use it well.
Notes:
(1) http://searchcio.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid19_gci1048494,00.html
(2) http://www.class.uidaho.edu/jcanders/Matthew/heilmattsectf01.htm, page 1
(3) All graphics are purely in the minds of the listeners.
(4) Brendan Slevin, OP. http://torch.op.org/preaching/preacher/256