Thought for the Week

14 February – Sunday next before Lent

Collect	Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings	Exodus 34, 29 – end
	Psalm 99
	2 Corinthians 3, 12 – 4, 2
	Luke 9, 28 – 36

Close Encounter (with the Lord )
 
The story is told about a man who took his new hunting dog on a trial hunt one day. 
 After a while he managed to shoot a duck and it fell in
 the lake. The dog walked over the water, picked up the
 duck, and brought it to his master.
 The man was stunned. He didn't know what to think. He
 shot another duck and again, it fell into the lake and
 again the dog walked over the water and brought it back to
 his master.
 Hardly daring to believe his eyes, and not wanting to be
 thought a total fool, he told no-one about it - but the
 next day he called his neighbour to come shooting with
 him. As on the previous day he shot a duck and it fell
 into the lake. The dog walked over the water and got it. 
 His neighbour didn't say a word. Several more ducks got
 shot that day - and each time the dog walked over the
  water to retrieve them - and each time the neighbour said
 nothing and neither did the owner of the dog.
 Finally - unable to contain himself any longer the owner
 asked his neighbour - "do you notice anything strange
  about my dog??"
 Yes - replied the neighbour - rubbing his chin and
 thinking a bit - come to think of it I do - your dog
 doesn't know how to swim.."
 
Sometimes we can miss the point. Just like the neighbour in the story. We encounter Jesus in our lives. We pray and faithfully attend a church service and yet there are times when we miss the real wonder of Jesus being in our lives. The wonder of being in his presence. The fact that nothing can separate us from God.
 
Yet this was not always so. The reading in Exodus tells of a major event in the experience of Moses, where he is physically affected by his meeting with God. Moses had many meetings with God, yet on this occasion Moses literally glowed and shone. He radiated something of the glory of God in his appearance.
 
What a wonderful testimony to glow after being in the presence of God. Moses was in a privileged position. He was the only one of his people who could meet with God and live. Maybe that is why the Children of Israel were afraid. Moses reflected so much of the glory of God that they literally felt in the presence of God and therefore felt their lives were at risk, so much so that Moses had to cover his face. Moses had to wear a veil, not only to cover his glowing face but, also as a symbol that the way to God was obscured. 
 
FEAR prevented them from entering into the real joy that Moses had actually met with their God. The real joy that God was with them in their incredible journey to the Promised Land. . Instead of rejoicing in this, the people of Israel were afraid. 
 
What a contrast in the account of the transfiguration. Any separation between God and man was about to be torn to shreds, literally. Notice that Jesus was transfigured/transformed as he was praying to the Father. Jesus would often seek a quiet place to pray, but on this occasion he took some disciples with him. Maybe he wanted to show the disciples the power of prayer and how it could change them. Prayer can be a transfiguring/transforming experience and should not be under estimated. 
 
It was important that the three disciples LISTENED to Jesus, because he was going to tell them about events which they would find difficult to understand. Their faith in him would be tested. 
 
Yet having witnessed the amazing transfiguration of Jesus, Peter later denied ever knowing Jesus. He failed to remember what Jesus had told him would happen. He failed to understand what Jesus was saying to him. He missed the point. Peter did not listen properly. Having had a close encounter with the Lord, he failed to see the purpose behind it. FEAR overtook any faith and understanding that he thought he had. The same fear shown by the Children of Israel who questioned the power of God, which was with them on their journey to the Promised Land.
 
Just as Moses met with God and was His representative, so we are now in that privileged place. We can meet with God, and YES, there could be occasions when we will reflect his glory to our neighbours. If we meet with our Lord and recognise Him as God’s beloved Son and LISTEN to Him, then our appearance will change, and occasionally we will reflect the glory of God. But, just like with the Children of Israel, FEAR can prevent us from being in this place.
 
How many times have we gathered here and missed the point. Failed to realise that we meet with the Son of God and we have not listened to him. We hear the words in the songs we sing, we hear the words we pray, we hear the homily, and yet we fail to listen to what the Lord is saying through these. Jesus is the beloved Son of God, take time and LISTEN to him.
 
I am reminded of the words in a hymn; 
 
To be in your presence
To sit at your feet
This is my desire
To rest in your presence
Not rushing away
To cherish each moment
Here I would stay
This is my desire O Lord
 
There was a veil between the Children of Israel and God. Today there is no such veil. Do we come into God’s presence with a veil over our hearts, or do we come with an open heart eager to be transformed in our lives?
 
Don’t be like the neighbour of the hunter who missed the point. Acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, and LISTEN to him. May we all leave this place today with a glow in our hearts.

Adrian Wilson: Reader, Anglican Chaplaincy of Midi-Pyrénées & Aude

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