Exodus 34:29-35

Last Sunday before Lent [Transfiguration Sunday] - Year C

 

To be connected with G*D is to be raised to the heights.
To be connected with G*D is to enter the depths.

 

We beckon each other, entreat each other, to reveal our best to each other.
We move on to testify and reveal our best to others.
We return to vision and to again go forth.

 

This rhythm enlightens and energizes all of creation.
This rhythm engages our hopes and fears.

 

We reveal and are revealed.
We veil and stand naked.
We alternate until we can't tell the difference

 

Connected with G*D our fear of what is possible is palpable.
Connected with Neighb*r our hope of covenant is constant.

 

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/02/epiphany-lasttransfiguration-year-c.html

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Concern about relationships draws people together.

Concern about laws pushes people away.

Tears and glory are two of the continuing realities in our lives and the life of the church. There is an appropriate ratio of these for each situation. The general rule of thumb, however, is that compassion is on the high side of the ratio while structural stability is on the low side.

Do you see folks as family or subjects?

Do you experience yourself as part of GOD's family or one of GOD's subjects?

What is the feeling tone of restoring a dysfunctional family (even if it is claimed that such was intended by GOD - oh, yes, intended to do good)? What is the feeling tone of setting up rules by which some of the family will be sent away or killed because they don't consistently life up to the highest of ideals?

A difficulty that needs to be faced is what to do with the inherent exclusivity in taking care of one's own above caring for all? A second difficulty is what to do with the universality of a structure focused on exclusivity of rules that are for us?

We are not dealing with pure poles here and so the question of transfiguration comes in between as care becomes a spiritual discipline and sabbath rules can be abrogated to care for self or another. What seems like a choice between Joseph's transfiguration and that of Moses raises the question of finding the clarity spot for your own transfiguration.

How would the conversation on the mountain been different if Moses and Joseph showed up instead of Moses and Elijah?

If you were to pick two of your formative folks to stand by you as you begin the next part of your journey, your exodus, who would they be?

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/february2004.html

 

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When in deep conversation with G*D, self, or other we aren't always aware of the difference it is making in us. One way or another, deep conversation sets off fires within that cannot be hidden.

There are changes that occur in deep conversation that affect every other relationship we have, including with the one with whom we have had a deep conversation. Fear, from ourselves or another, is not an unexpected response to the significant change that has happened.

There really isn't any way to cover over the consequences of a deep conversation. This, of course, is one reason more such conversations don't go on - our preemptive fear cuts them off before change becomes necessary.

Are there some conversations you've been meaning to have that you've avoided for fear, yours or another's, that the result would be devastating to business as usual, would transfigure/transform your life and the life of the world?

If we were dealing with the Seventh Sunday of Epiphany (Genesis 45:3-11, 15) we would look at the issue of how other forms of presence can be as dismaying as Moses' - as when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Here, deep secrets that have been kept are a veil that needs to be lifted, not a deep conversation.

From whichever way we come at this issue of having one's face or one's family transfigured, this is a significant issue in a culture of fear - wars, disagreement is equated with treason, management by leaks, etc. Transfiguration may be one of our yet available hopes to make a difference.

- - - - - - -

introverted Moses
finds energy
in mountain-top
get-aways

extroverted Joseph
finds energy
in intra-personal
relationships

sparks fly
when energy is found
to light one's face
to light another's

its time
to engage energy
inner and outer
for transfiguration

transformation
of self
for edification
for reconciliation

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

 

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Today's world associates a shining, glowing face with a happy face; an I-get-to-do-what-I-want-to-do face.

Moses' face shone as a result of an encounter with G*D's limits. If you see Moses coming toward you with a shining face - run! - you can bet there is going to be another boundary for your life coming.

While there are blessings in limits, they seem to bring a temptation to test them. We don't accede to them simply because they are attributed to G*D. Moses' shining face reveals how unreflective of the god's images we are. We are not eager to see such shining in orbit around our black hole sucking everything toward our id.

The veil approach (closeting) didn't work then and doesn't work now. Let the energy of life that brings healing flow and let the commandments shaping us toward healing beam their warning lights. We, like Moses, live within these poles.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/02/exodus-3429-35.html