The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.

“The Bucket List” is a movie about two dying men, Edward (played by Jack Nicholas) and Carter (played by Morgan Freeman), who discovers life together by traveling the world. The movie asks the question, “What would you do if you had a limited time to live?” Fortunately, Edward was an extremely wealthy businessman, so the two men had unlimited resources to complete their bucket list, a list of things they want to do before they kick the bucket.

The bucket list included the desire to “witness something truly majestic.” Though they shared some beautiful moments, like sitting on top of the pyramids in Egypt, Carter didn’t think any of those things were as majestic as being on the top of a mountain. He explains that it is so quiet on the top of a mountain that you can hear the voice of God. Nothing less than a mountain top experience would be enough for him. Unfortunately, they arrived at the base of an incredible mountain when the weather turned bad for the winter, so they would not be able to get to the top for months. The two men had an argument and returned to their homes. Unfortunately, they did not reconcile in time; Carter died of cancer before they could climb that mountain. He never had his mountain top experience. In his final words, Carter asked Edward to finish the list.

In the end, the two men were buried together on the top of a beautiful mountain. The final scene shows Edward’s assistant adding a can filled with Edward’s ashes to a special container at the top of a majestic mountain. He crossed off the final thing on the bucket list “witness something truly majestic” and placed it in the container with the ashes of the two men.

We are somewhat disappointed that they did not get to experience that mountain top experience, but they both had much more powerful experiences in the valleys of their lives. Carter realized that he had a wonderful life, with a wife who adored him and that he didn’t need to get to the top of the mountain to experience the voice of God. Edward found love and joy in his daughter and granddaughter from whom he’d been estranged for many years. They both realized that life isn’t lived at the top of the mountain but in the everyday experiences with people they love.

The Gospel lesson for this week is an amazing story. Peter, James, and John were invited to experience a most incredible moment. They witnessed God briefly breaking through into our world in a powerful, tangible way. The Law (seen in Moses) and the Prophets (seen in Elijah) were brought together with the fulfillment in Jesus Christ of every promise they spoke. The three disciples saw Jesus in a form that is beyond anything earthly. They heard the audible voice of God that spoke to them personally. This is something we can read and imagine, we can experience awe, but we can’t really know what it was like for those three men. They were afraid. We think Peter was silly for wanting to build tabernacles, but what would we have done? How would we have responded to this incredible moment?

The transfiguration must have been a most incredible experience. Not only were Peter, James, and John on the top of a mountain, but they were there with the Messiah. At that moment, they did hear the voice of God, not in the whisper of the quiet wind but in a voice coming out of the clouds. The words were repeated from Jesus’ baptism, “This is my beloved Son.” Whether anyone heard that voice at the Jordan we may never know for sure, but now it was heard by Jesus’ inner circle of friends. It was a moment worth grasping forever. Peter even wanted to build permanent structures so that Moses and Elijah and Jesus would have a place to stay.

But Jesus hurried them off the mountain back into the valley because He knew that it is in the valleys where life is truly lived. They could not stay on the top of the mountain; they had to get back to work. There were still people to be healed. There were still demons to cast out. There were still so many who needed to hear God’s word and learn about God’s kingdom so that they might be saved for eternity. It would not happen if they lingered on the mountain top. The real work was in the valley.

Do you ever feel like you want to go to a place far away, perhaps to the top of a mountain? Have you ever had one of those moments that you never want to end? Those experiences are incredible, but they are not where we should stay. It is time to move on, to get back into the muck and mire of real life to share the Good News with others so that they too might hear the voice of God.

My dad was a very quiet man. I have a very vivid memory of one conversation we had when I was very young. We talked about the weather. Though the conversation was inconsequential, it is a lasting memory for me because it was one of the few times that my dad talked to me. This isn’t to say that he was a bad father or that he ignored his family. He just didn’t talk much. But when he had something to say, it was worth stopping whatever you were doing to listen.

This is a rare quality, especially in our world full of words. Everyone has something to say and there are so many outlets where they can express their thoughts. Most of sites on the Internet post boards where the topics can be discussed by the readers. Reading these discussion boards is sometimes sad, sometimes disturbing, sometimes hysterically funny. Who hasn’t spent too much time reading a thread on Facebook or other social media? Everyone has an opinion, and most people are willing to post their thoughts for the world to read. Unfortunately, sometimes those thoughts are incoherent and unrelated to the topic at hand.

It seems as though everyone has a blog these days. It is so easy to set up a site to share whatever comes to mind. Though my A WORD FOR TODAY format is different than the blogging sites, I’ve been doing it for nearly twenty-five years now! There have been some people throughout the years willing to read the words I write. I’m sure, however, that in that quarter of a century I’ve said some things that are foolish or trivial. I’m sure there have been times that someone has disagreed with my point of view. I’ve considered myself very blessed that so many people have found value in my work, but I often shake my head in wonder as to why. Why do so many people “listen” to me?

The message God spoke to the disciples was simple but very powerful, “Listen to Him.” In a world when we have so many voices screaming at us with opinions that are built on biases, it is hard to know to whom we should listen. Everyone has an opinion, and they often disagree. One expert says this, and another expert says that. Which one is right? Who is telling the truth? What is the truth? But God tells us what to do, “Listen to Jesus.” I’m not sure it is that easy, because there are so many voices trying to tell us what Jesus said, what He meant, and they rarely agree. But we can listen. We can pray. We can do our best to live as God calls us to live, serving Him with our hearts and our hands and our voices, knowing that God is faithful, and His Word is greater than our foolish and trivial words.

Paul knew what it was like to be blind. He was a zealous Jew, set on a course of extermination. He wanted to destroy the new way of seeing, “the Way” as it was called in his day. Luke tells us in the book of Acts that Saul, which was his name at that time, was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” He had letters to take to the synagogues of Damascus, giving permission to punish those who were following “the Way.” As he made his way to Damascus on that very important mission, he was struck blind by an incredible light on the road. Inside the light he heard a voice calling out to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Jesus called Saul, whom He renamed Paul, into His ministry with that light. Saul remained blind for three days and during that time he fasted. Jesus sent another man, a follower of “the Way” named Ananias to heal his vision and help Saul, Paul, on his new ministry.

So, it is natural for Paul to talk about the Gospel in terms of light and blindness. He had experienced it himself in a very real, and powerful way. He was blind by his own understanding of God, using his incredible knowledge of the scriptures and his position of power and authority in Israel to persecute Christians. He was involved with the death of Stephen, and perhaps many other Christians. He was given a miraculous encounter with the Living Christ, Jesus, who met him on that road in a very dramatic way. His conversion experience was certainly something to remember, and something that came up often in his teaching and preaching. He’d been blind, both spiritually and physically, and he’d been healed of both.

Yet, somehow he knew that not everyone would see the reality of the Gospel message. They would be blinded, as he was blinded, by the things of this world. He was blinded by his power and his understanding of the scriptural texts. He was blinded by the traditions of his people. He was blinded by his perception of the people who were following “the Way.” He could not see the reality of God’s love and mercy and grace as found in “the Way” until he met Jesus.

Sometimes it is hard to see that reality because the people who share the Gospel message with us are imperfect and caught up in their own perceptions of the world and Jesus. Many non-Christians say that the reason they are not Christian is because of the Christians. We are seen as hypocrites or that we will fall for any fairy tale. Often guided not by intellect but emotion, Christianity is seen as foolishness. Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that he was not trying to sell himself, but that the message he shared is about Jesus and Jesus alone. He brings us back to his own beginning when he was foolishly unwilling to hear the truth, when he faced the blinding light and three days of physical blindness. We are reminded that nothing we can do can overcome that spiritual, and physical, blindness. It is by God’s grace and mercy that people will see. It was only by listening to Jesus that Paul was saved.

So, we go forth sharing the Gospel message, always remembering that it isn’t about us. Though we would like to count every conversion as a notch on our belt, counting every saved person as something we’ve accomplished, we see that it is never about us. Though we are the messenger who can take the Gospel out to the world, it is God who lifts the veil off the eyes of those who do not believe. It is God that shines in their darkness. It is God who makes them see. When we speak the Word, it is Jesus to whom they are listening.

The Epiphany texts for the past few weeks have focused on the revelation of God in the life of Jesus Christ. We have been following Mark’s telling of the story of Jesus at the beginning of His ministry. We saw Him call His first disciples, drive out an evil spirit, heal many people including Simon’s mother-in-law, pray alone and move on to other towns to preach the Kingdom of God to the people, which was the work He was sent to do. We end this season with the brightest light of all, the transfiguration of Jesus. On Transfiguration Sunday we see Jesus literally glowing from within the radiant light of God’s glory in the presence of the ones whom God sent to point His people toward the Messiah: Moses and Elijah.

Our Old Testament text for this lectionary is about the story of Moses, but some use the story of Elijah from 2 Kings 2:1-12. This is the story of the assumption of Elijah. Elijah and Elisha were traveling through the prophetic communities of Israel so that Elijah could say good-bye. All along the way, Elijah told Elisha to stop following him. Elisha refused to leave his master, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” All along the way the prophets told Elisha that he was about to lose his master. Nothing stopped Elisha; he was determined to follow Elijah every step of the way. Elijah was prepared to take this journey alone, but Elisha would not leave him.

This must have been a frightening time for Elisha. Was he ready to take on the responsibilities of being God’s prophet? Being a prophet was not a pleasant job, especially if the word God speaks is unpopular. Elisha knew that he would experience persecution and threats, but he also knew that it was where he belonged. He did not allow any fear to keep him from doing what he was called to do. At the end of the journey, Elijah and Elisha found themselves at the Jordan River. While this is the story of the passing of Elijah’s authority to Elisha, Elijah’s story is the one that matters today. Elijah was taken up into heaven suddenly in a fiery chariot, the sign of God’s blessing on Elisha’s ministry, and it is for this reason many believe that Elijah will return.

The story of the Exodus takes us on a journey Moses was never allowed to finish. Due to his own failings, Moses never entered into the Promised Land. Instead, the Hebrews were led across the Jordan River by Joshua as Moses watched from a hilltop. Then he died and God buried him in Moab. Joshua took the Hebrews through the Jordan, through Jericho, through Bethel to Gilgal where they were circumcised. All those who had left Egypt that had been properly circumcised had died in the desert. There, at Gilgal, Joshua restored the people to the covenant between God and His people by circumcising all the men. Elijah followed that same route, returning to the very place that the Israelites crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. There are some who believe that Jesus was baptized in the same area of the Jordan.

In today’s Old Testament lesson from Exodus 34, Moses had been on the mountain for forty days and forty nights to receive the tablets of the Law. This was the second set of tablets; Moses destroyed the first set when he came off the mountain and discovered that the people had turned to false gods while he was gone. He had seen God’s glory (Exodus 33:12-23) and was changed, although he did not realize it at first. The people saw how he reflected God’s glory and they were afraid, but he called them to come to him and listen. He gave them the commands the LORD had given him on Sinai.

When he was finished talking, Moses put a veil over his face. The Old Testament lesson seems to indicate that looking upon the reflected light of God’s glory is too dangerous for ordinary people. However, St. Paul wrote that Moses put it on to hide the fact that the radiance passed away. He took off the veil when he spoke to God and then stayed unveiled when he reported what God said. They were afraid of him; the light reminded them that Moses was God’s own chosen representative. It is likely, then, that Paul has it right. The glory fades. Would the people of Israel have continued to listen to Moses if they did not see the radiance of God’s grace? Perhaps Moses wore the veil because of his own fears or insecurities.

Paul reminds us that the old covenant was temporary and inadequate. It was passing away, but some wanted to hide its vanishing with a veil. The Old Covenant could never stand because no matter how hard we try we can never be good enough to deserve God’s grace. The Old Covenant was replaced with a new one, one that is revealed to those who believe in Jesus Christ. Moses and Elijah were never meant to be the ones to whom Israel looked for eternal life. They both pointed toward the One God would send to restore God’s people to Him forever. That’s why the radiance of Moses faded.

Moses reflected God’s glory, but even the holiest human is imperfect. We fail. We cannot sustain the glory because we are stained by sin. Moses did not want the people to know the light faded, so he hid his face. Jesus, on the other hand, does not reflect the light; He is the Light. The glory did not fade for Jesus. When the moment was over, Jesus let it go so that He could continue to work in the valley. He had to go back, to get His hands dirty, to face the humiliation of the Passion, and to die. He refused to stay in that moment of glory because the real glory would come later. It would come on the cross.

The disciples did not want to leave, but the mountaintop experience was not the moment for which they had been preparing; it was just a preview of what was to come. Peter wanted to build shelters to make this a lasting moment, but Jesus set His feet toward Jerusalem, toward death and the grave. Peter, James and John did not quite understand but they followed Him, blessed by the brief shining moment when they saw Jesus as God intended Him to be: crowned in glory. Though they wanted that moment to last forever, they saw the hope of what was to come on that mountain top. That glory will last forever someday.

Paul wrote, “Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying.” Those who are ruled by sin and death refuse to see God’s hand in the world. They prefer to veil God’s glory. They prefer to believe what sounds good rather than hear what God really has to say. They do not listen. Jesus came to speak God’s words in a new way, to cause God’s people to see Him as He is, not in the twisted ways of the world. Jesus came to bring a New Covenant in the Gospel that is better than the reflected glory of Moses that passed away.

Not everyone hears. Paul knew this. He was opposed by people who accused him of manipulation and lies. They ministered out of self-interest, seeking positions of status and influence rather than glorifying God. They refused to admit or even see that they were the ones playing games. They cared nothing for the Gospel or Christ or the people of God; they cared only for themselves. To them, there was no glory on the cross. They could not see because they were blinded by the god of this world. They were blinded by their own fears and their own desires. They were happy to let the truth be veiled so they didn’t have to see their way was passing away.

The Word, especially when we are the ones speaking it, often falls onto deaf ears, but that does not mean God is less powerful or Jesus any less authoritative. The god of this world continues to blind those who would prefer to be blinded from the truth and glory; a veil has been drawn over their eyes. As people of faith, we live in awe of God’s presence even if there are consequences of telling His story because by faith we dwell in His presence. He has called us into this relationship, shined the light of His glory so that we might see, and then invited us to follow Him into the valley to do His work.

It is frightening, but as we join Jesus on the journey to the cross, we need not be afraid. God goes with us, and He has assured us that He has the power to fulfill His promises. He can make it happen, and He does. We might not think we are ready to take on the responsibility, but God blesses those who are obedient. Moses trusted God. Elijah trusted God. Peter, James, and John trusted God. Jesus trusted God. Now we are called to trust God, too, to follow Him wherever He leads and to listen to Him above all the other voices.

Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’ glory for one moment on that mountaintop; Jesus was fully and completely revealed as the Light. It was not time for Jesus to be glorified; He still had work to do. It was time to journey toward the cross.

This is the last Sunday before Lent, the last Sunday of Epiphany. While Advent was a time of increasing light, Lent is a time when the god of this world seems to gain power until we think he has succeeded at destroying God’s work. Like Elisha at the Jordan and Jesus on the mountain, we are beginning a new journey. We have to leave the mountain top and go into the valley where we will truly find the grace and mercy of God. There we will see Him, there we will find Him at the cross, and there we will see the glory of God revealed in a whole new way as the Light overcomes the darkness forever. The Mighty One, God, speaks in and through Jesus Christ. He is the Light and all God’s promises are fulfilled in Him. If we are willing to listen, Jesus will tell us of His love in a radical new way, a way that leads to eternity on a mountain top in His glory.