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Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

The story of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top has always been somewhat facinating to me. For in that short lesson there are many things to learn and wonder about.

Have you ever climbed a mountain? Most of us have been over a mountain range in a car. But that's not the same thing as actually climbing a mountain with your own two feet. For as you're climbing up a mountain you can get the feeling that you are exposed to an incredible vastness. As you're climbing a mountain, and as you get up high, you can look behind you and see how small everything below you really is. And, somehow, what you left behind at the foot of the mountain doesn't seem to be as important as where you are right at that moment. It is with this sense of awareness that many people have felt closer to God upon a mountain top.

A church is like a mountain top. For our participation within the church is one which should make us aware of the increidble vastness of God's eternity. As we are involved in the life of the church it should be like a retreat from which we can view the rest of the world with a new perspective and know the importance of the moment of God's touch in the transcendance of holy worship.

Jesus knew this about mountains. That's why he went to such places to pray. For he was tempted in the wilderness on a mountain. And it was on a mountain that Jesus took a multitude of people to hear him preach what has become known as his Sermon on the Mount.

And mountains had been the center for many religious occurances throughout the life of Israel. It was on a mountain that Abraham went to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but heard the voice of God offering him a ram, instead. And it was on a mountain that God called Moses to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. And it was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments. And it was on a mountain Elijah heard the still small voice of God speaking to him. It was on Mount Carmel that Elijah conquored the prophets of Baal with the fire of God from heaven. Indeed, the people of Israel knew that mountains were important in their religious life.

In fact, this is true of most all cultures. The land of Egypt didn't have many mountains so they built some and called them "The Pyramids." In places where there weren't mountains the Babylonians, the Incas and the Mayans built high places where they could worship their gods. For these ancient people strongly believed that these high places were like footstools for the gods to step out of heaven to be with human beings. And sacrifices were performed upon these high places, even by the Jews, as a means of getting attention from heaven. Even the Temple in Jerusalem was built upon a mountain -- Mount Moriah, the same mountain where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. And that very same mountain is where God gave up his only begotten Son, crucified as the supreme sacrifice for all.

And we believe that it is during such an encounter with God that there is the potential for change to take place. After Abraham's encounter with God on Mount Moriah with his son, Isaac, we was never going to be the same. After Moses' encounter with God on Mt. Sinai he was able to lead his people with such power that they were molded into a great nation that lives to this very day. And, even in our gospel lesson for today, Jesus was changed, he was given a heavenly appearance which allowed his disciples to vividly understand that he was no mere man but truly the Son of God who they needed to listen to and obey. So, in a very real way, these disciples of Jesus, Peter, James, and John, were changed, as well, by being on the mountain with Jesus.

Churches are mountains, too. Did you know that? For, like the people of Israel who believed that they could have communion with God on mountains, and who even built their temples on mountains for this reason, we believe that we can commune with God in church. But, what's more, we are told that where two or three are gathered together, there is the church. So, the church isn't necessarily a building. Rather, it is simply a place where God's people gather. And it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that that gathering becomes a mountain top. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that that place becomes the very throne room of God. And it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that that very company of Christian worshipers becomes a living part of the heavenly hosts and saints of heaven. Indeed, it is very important, as we worship, to be aware of who we are, not as individuals worshiping alone in the midst of others, but as the collective gathering of God's people.

I believe that when a congregation realizes this fact that it suddenly becomes powerful in the hands of God. When we come to church as individuals, only seeking what we can get from our worship experience, rather than working on what we can contribute to the ministry of the Body of Christ, we have missed the point of what it means to be the church. It is when we realize that we are a part of the whole that God can use us best. And it is the church which seeks to bring others into the fellowship of believers, into the unity of Christ's Body, that finds itself being used powerfully in the hands of God.

Yes, this church is a mountain. It is one place where we can commune with God as the people of God. And that makes this a place where change can take place -- change in the life of God's people

-- and change in the life of you and me. And that change is something that begins, not necessarily within our own heart, but in the collective heart of a congregation, as well.

In our gospel lesson for today one of the things that happened was that after Jesus was transfigured he went to his disciples and touched them. And as he did so he told them "Get up and don't be afraid."

Again, there's something to be learned here. For, the touch of Jesus was very important. As with the blind man who came to Jesus, the touch of Jesus meant healing. As in the woman who wept at Jesus' feet, the touch of Jesus was comforting. And as in the account of the parents who brought their little children to Jesus, touch of Jesus was a blessing. People wanted to touch Jesus and to be touched by him. For there was power in the touch of our Lord.

The touch of Jesus is powerful for us, as well. I am reminded of the song that is in our new hymnal:

Shackled by a heavy burden,

neath a load of guilt and shame,

then the hand of Jesus touched me,

and now I am no longer the same.

He touched me,

O, he touched me,

and O the joy that floods my soul!

Something happened, and now I know,

he touched me and made me whole.

Over the past years, many United Methodists have gotten away from this aspect of their faith. Touching isn't something that many people do very much anymore. Psychologists say that children are hugged less than ever, and that it is this lack of physical contact between parents and children that may contribute to a variety of mental illnesses. Indeed, we have become a society which is actually afraid of touching. With the A.I.D.S. epidemic, with our over concern about viruses and bacteria, many people are even afraid to shake someone else's hand, let alone share the common cup or loaf with a person, or sit in front of them in church.

Indeed, we are a people who have become isolated from each other. And we have made it easy to be so. Where fifty years ago you had to actually go to a gymnasium and rub elbows with people to see a basketball game, now all you have to do is turn on the T.V. set and sit, alone in your living room. Where in order to be entertained neighbors used to mingle together in their kitchens to play Scrabble or Parchesi, people are now entertained by T.V. game shows. Where in order to get a job done farmers used to band together, now the job is done by huge machines driven by just one man. So, indeed, we are becoming a people increasingly out of touch with one another, more isolated than ever before.

But there is good news in all of this. The church provides us the opportunity to get in touch with one another. And we are also provided with the opportunity to be touched by Jesus, as well. And that touch can change our lives.

Hear this poem:

Just as Moses went up high

to be with God, in prayer,

And gathered strength for ministry

and wisdom, true and fair;

So, Lord Jesus, be with us

in this our little church,

And give us guidance for our lives,

a blessing in our search.

Just as Jesus went up high

with Peter, James and John,

To be transfigured for the way,

as to the cross was drawn;

So, gathered on this mountain top,

Lord Jesus, may we dwell

Upon your word and gentle touch --

Transfigure us, as well.

Amen.