Greetings Friends,
Welcome back to Prepared Hearts the online lectionary-based Bible study of the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday and our lectionary texts include: Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 99, 2 Peter 1:16-21, and Matthew 17:1-9.
I’ll be preaching from Matthew. The text is below, followed by starter thoughts.
Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’
STARTER THOUGHTS
1. The word “Transfiguration” literally means “metamorphosed.” We take the name from this Sunday from the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop. Yet, we have to ask ourselves the question: how are we transfigured/metamorphosed by our experience of Christ?
2. Have you had similar “mountaintop” experiences with Christ? Times when you’ve encountered the presence of the Divine and felt awestruck? Where/how did they occur? What was your response? Were you ready to travel back down the hill or did you, like Peter, want to take some time to build dwelling places and linger awhile?
3. The disciples see Jesus glowing with the transcendence associated with heavenly beings, foretelling his resurrection. The words spoken by God reiterate his status as the Son of God. In this story, the post-Easter exalted Christ appears within the pre-Easter context. Peter, James and John witness all of this but are told to sit on this information until after Christ’s resurrection. Put yourself in Peter’s (or James’ or John’) shoes. First, how do you think you would have responded to the sight of sparkling Jesus? Second, do you think you’d have been able to keep your experience to yourself once you’d come down from the mountaintop? Third, would this have changed how you viewed Jesus’ subsequent arrest and crucifixion?
4. Of course, the appearance of Moses and Elijah in this story is not coincidental. A lot has been written about why these two prominent Jewish figures appear alongside Jesus (and of course there is a lot of speculation about what the three were discussing). One thing that is essential to note is that Moses and Elijah were two of the three leaders (Enoch being the third) whom Jews considered to be alive in the presence of God. Seeing the glowing Jesus alongside Moses and Elijah should have tipped off the disciples to the Resurrection, but who can blame them for being confused? The voice from heaven confirms Jesus’ status as the Son of God (not just eternally alive like Moses and Elijah). All of this occurs before Jesus’ brutal suffering and death. Unlike Moses and Elijah, who were spared even normal deaths, Jesus would be brutally beaten and scandalously crucified. What do you make of this?
As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections. Feel free to email me or post a comment here.
Peace,
Pastor Amee
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
Prepared Hearts for February 9th
Greetings Friends,
Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, the online lectionary based Bible study of the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. This week’s lectionary texts include: Isaiah 58:1-12, Psalm 112:1-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Matthew 5:13-20. I’ll be preaching from Matthew. The text is below, followed by starter thoughts.
MATTHEW 5:13-20 (NRSV)
‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
STARTER THOUGHTS
1. The metaphor of salt was a powerful one in the historical context in which Jesus spoke of it. Salt was used in sacrifice (Leviticus 2:13), was a sign of covenant (Numbers 18:19), was used for purification (2 Kings 2:19-22), and of course, was a seasoning and preservative. Centuries later, salt continues to be an essential part of our lives, from food preparation to making our roadways and sidewalks passable during winter. What does “being salty” mean to you? Does the admonition to be “salt of the earth” continue to apply to us today? How so?
2. The salt and light sayings of Matthew emphasize how mission is inherent to discipleship. What is the connection between mission and discipleship in your own life? Where do you see evidence of this connection in the church?
3. Letting your light shine means that others will take notice. While the goal of this is to glorify God, it also means that our leadership will be on display and that others will take notice of this. How comfortable are you with shining brightly? What is it that keeps many hiding under a bushel basket?
4. The early church struggled with what role the “Law” (the Torah) was supposed to play in the Christian church. The largest question was: did Jesus make the Law obsolete? There was also great debate regarding whether those persons new to the Christian faith were supposed to adopt all of the Hebrew practices. The Matthean approach to this issue is that Jesus did not abolish the law but came to “fulfill it.” However, it is clear throughout his ministry that Jesus didn’t support the status quo.
In some ways, this is an issue that the church continues to struggle with. We ask ourselves: how much of what we now call Scripture (Old and New Testaments) are we to follow to the letter and what portions are we supposed to challenge? To what extent do we rely upon what the Bible states and to what degree do we follow what we believe Jesus would do in any given circumstance? How do you handle this tension in your own life? Do you think the church does a good job of addressing this issue?
As always, I look forward to your thoughts and reflections. Feel free to email me or post your comments here.
Peace,
Pastor Amee
Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, the online lectionary based Bible study of the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. This week’s lectionary texts include: Isaiah 58:1-12, Psalm 112:1-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Matthew 5:13-20. I’ll be preaching from Matthew. The text is below, followed by starter thoughts.
MATTHEW 5:13-20 (NRSV)
‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
STARTER THOUGHTS
1. The metaphor of salt was a powerful one in the historical context in which Jesus spoke of it. Salt was used in sacrifice (Leviticus 2:13), was a sign of covenant (Numbers 18:19), was used for purification (2 Kings 2:19-22), and of course, was a seasoning and preservative. Centuries later, salt continues to be an essential part of our lives, from food preparation to making our roadways and sidewalks passable during winter. What does “being salty” mean to you? Does the admonition to be “salt of the earth” continue to apply to us today? How so?
2. The salt and light sayings of Matthew emphasize how mission is inherent to discipleship. What is the connection between mission and discipleship in your own life? Where do you see evidence of this connection in the church?
3. Letting your light shine means that others will take notice. While the goal of this is to glorify God, it also means that our leadership will be on display and that others will take notice of this. How comfortable are you with shining brightly? What is it that keeps many hiding under a bushel basket?
4. The early church struggled with what role the “Law” (the Torah) was supposed to play in the Christian church. The largest question was: did Jesus make the Law obsolete? There was also great debate regarding whether those persons new to the Christian faith were supposed to adopt all of the Hebrew practices. The Matthean approach to this issue is that Jesus did not abolish the law but came to “fulfill it.” However, it is clear throughout his ministry that Jesus didn’t support the status quo.
In some ways, this is an issue that the church continues to struggle with. We ask ourselves: how much of what we now call Scripture (Old and New Testaments) are we to follow to the letter and what portions are we supposed to challenge? To what extent do we rely upon what the Bible states and to what degree do we follow what we believe Jesus would do in any given circumstance? How do you handle this tension in your own life? Do you think the church does a good job of addressing this issue?
As always, I look forward to your thoughts and reflections. Feel free to email me or post your comments here.
Peace,
Pastor Amee
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