Mountain Top Moments

There is an interesting story in the gospel of Matthew in which Jesus, Peter, James, and John climb a mountain to get away from the crowds. Matthew tells us that Jesus was “transfigured” before them. His clothing turned all white. Moses and Elijah appear next to him, and God’s voice booms down from heaven, “This is my beloved Son…”

So the disciples are having an epiphany – a religious experience. And all of a sudden they have this moment of clarity.

I wonder if you’ve ever had that kind of experience. Not necessarily a vision, not necessarily hearing God’s voice booming down from a cloud, but have you ever had one of those transcendent moments? A moment when you’ve just felt so convicted, so humbled, so aware that there is far more to this life than what you can see or touch or know – a moment when you could just sense the presence of Christ in you and around you?

It’s interesting. Our scripture says that in the middle of that transcendent moment, Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” In other words, let’s set up camp and stay a while! It’s nice up here.

The temptation is that we want to stay up on the mountain. The temptation is that we want to compartmentalize our faith – to make it just about Sunday morning, or just about piety, or just about these mountain top epiphany experiences.

Of course, we have to come back down, don’t we? Because the real work and ministry for all of us is not on top of the mountain, but down in the valley, where the people are hurting, where they are struggling and suffering. The place where our faith is lived out is in our schools, where there are drugs and violence and teachers who are at their wit’s end. It is in our neighborhoods and homes where our screens have replaced conversation, and where the ability to listen and to show compassion are lost arts. The place where our faith is lived out is among the poor and the hurting and the hungry. That’s where what we believe comes to bear. That’s where we can make a difference.

At the same time, we do need those mountain top experiences. They strengthen our faith and fill our cups.

Perhaps our prayer is this: Lead us up on to the mountain, Lord, that we might see your glory. Humble us. Convict us. Assure us. Give us a vision. But then Lord, bring us down the mountain and empower us to live it out.

Let us pray: Grant us, O God, moments of transcendence. Help us to know you and to experience your power and grace. May we draw strength and wisdom and hope for life in valleys. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.