Blind Spots
Last Epiphany C
Exodus 34:29-35; Luke 9:28-43
2/14/10
Lorraine Ljunggren

        Happy St. Valentine's Day. It is a great day on which to observe the Last Sunday after the Epiphany – the last day in a season focused on our showing forth the light of Christ in the world – a season focused on taking the love of Christ into the world – the last Sunday before the 40 day journey of Lenten love begins. A Sunday on which preachers across denominational lines today are participating in a 'preach-in' sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light to include ways in which we need to shine a light on the work necessary to stop the degradation and help heal the environment of this fragile earth our island home. This is a Sunday on which we'll gather at 6pm at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church to celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Absalom Jones whose faith journey took him from slave to freedom to priest and prophet in our church.
        
        Our readings from scripture today tell stories about light and its relation to the glory of God. Of how Moses' face shines with a great light whenever he speaks with God on Mount Sinai and of how Jesus' face changes and even his clothing appears to shine brightly on what we call the Mount of Transfiguration. There is something that radiates within the human spirit when we find ourselves encountering the living presence of God. I've seen it on your faces when someone is baptized, when we celebrate the lives of those we love who have moved on in glory, when we hear our children sing, or when we gather around this holy table to celebrate communion together. I've seen your faces shine with joy on the dance floor and the softball field. I've seen the brightness of your faith in God while hammering nails to build a handicapped ramp or digging potatoes with our children in the Covenant Garden.
        
        It's important for us to pause and note that in the reading from Luke's Gospel Jesus comes back down from the Mount of Transfiguration to once again be immersed in the work God has set before Jesus to do. There is time on the mountain to pray and bask in the radiance of God's love which enables Jesus and enables us, strengthens us to be immersed in the work God has set before us to do.
        
        Lent is normally a time in which we spend time reflecting on our journeys of faith. Each year on Ash Wednesday we are invited to the observance of a Holy Lent. The ministries in which we engage – to which we commit – are part of a Holy Lent. The spiritual practices in which we engage – to which we commit – are part of a Holy Lent.
        
        And to help enrich the Lenten journey this year, I first have an environmentally friendly challenge for you. It is one the students at Duke Divinity School are accepting this year. Their community is being challenged “…NOT to use disposables during Lent, and to develop disciplines of carrying around and using re-usable water and food containers.” This is something all ages at St. Mark's can do. And, if you do not have access to some of these re-usable containers, let me know and we'll make sure you have some. If friends or acquaintances at school or at work or in the neighborhood are tossing away containers and wrapping, tell them about your commitment and invite them to use re-usable water and food containers. Forty-days may turn into a lifetime of practicing good environmental stewardship.
        
        I have another Lenten suggestion for us all. What if we make a commitment to give thanks to God like we've never given thanks before in our lives?! We can even start today and not wait for Ash Wednesday. What if we start each day and end each day focusing on the blessings we do already have? Again, these are things people of all ages here at St. Mark's can do. Tell friends or acquaintances or neighbors about this spiritual discipline and recommend they try it as well. It is amazing what gratitude can do!
        
        What if we also spend time looking in our blind spots to see what we've been missing – what worldly needs we can address, what needs the person has who is sitting next to us or across from us – needs which we could address! Those of us who have driver's licenses or are working towards having one all know that every vehicle has blind spots. Remembering to check out blind spots can be a life or death matter for us or for some other driver. So, too, every human life has its blind spots. So, what if we commit to checking our spiritual blind spots? Or our financial blind spots? Or our environmental blind spots? Or our public service blind spots?
        
        While it seems like we can never escape the media, even they have blind spots. Did you hear or read this past week of a poor community which has been devastated by the recent ice and snow storms? Most media coverage is focusing on the people of Haiti – who do, indeed, need our on-going prayers and help. But, “on January 31^st the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe [in South Dakota] declared a state of emergency and requested federal disaster relief funds, food, medical supplies and generators. Tribal authorities issued a press release, saying that an estimated 1,500 homes had been without power for weeks.” (Episcopal News Service) For weeks! They estimate 3,000 utility poles are down. There is 85% unemployment among some of the Native American tribes in the U.S. and this area is no exception. The Tribe's website says they are waiting for a Presidential declaration of disaster. But without waiting Episcopal Relief and Development has rushed financial aid to tribes in South and North Dakota and local Episcopal congregations are doing all they can to help. In the name of our congregation I have sent a $500 discretionary fund check to Episcopal Relief and Development to benefit the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's relief and assured them of our prayers. The people of this Tribe and others have skipped over Lent and are already experiencing a type of Good Friday.
        
        This past week, standing amid the rubble of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port au Prince, Haiti, our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori said to Haiti Bishop Jean Duracin, “You should skip Lent this year, you've already had your Good Friday.” The Bishop of Haiti responded, “Yes, we can all sing alleluias together.” (Episcopal News Service) What a witness to hope and to the love of God Bishop Duracin makes – that amid devastation that takes one's breath away he can point to the goodness of God and speak of singing “Alleluia.”

        As we stand on this pivotal Sunday in the church's year and in the unfolding Gospel story of Jesus' life – a day which marks our turn towards Jerusalem and the work which lies in between the Transfiguration and the events in that Holy City, what will we make of this coming Lenten season? How will we live these forty days so that when we join in 'Alleluia' again we will mean it deep in our souls?

        What if we actually do read the Bible daily or every other day this Lent? We could even take our bulletin home and spend a week with the Sunday readings to see what we else can glean from them. What if we invite a friend to church who may have a terrible history with the church – invite them into our midst in the hope of healing a relationship gone sour in the past. What if we invite an acquaintance or stranger to church who might find a needed spiritual home among us? What if we check out what sorts of needs our youth and children have because we only have them with us for a short time before college or jobs or life moves them on to other places. We can that we start by eating pancakes or casseroles this coming Tuesday and praying about whether or not there is a call to serving as a youth leader in some of our futures.

        What if we actually do allot time each day for quietness and prayer whatever the circumstances of our lives? What if we take better care of our bodies by sleeping more and watching less T.V., by eating healthier foods and passing by some of our usual choices, by walking more – maybe walking with a friend or with an acquaintance who might become a friend? What if we pray for discernment, considering to what issue God is calling us to be a witness in the public arena, whether it is for the environment or for just immigration policies, for relief of hunger or homelessness.

        In an e-mail I received this week from 'Spirituality & Practice,' they quoted a reflection about Lent by Edward Hays, a Catholic priest and author of 30+ best-selling books on the spiritual journey. He wrote, "Lent as a holy season challenges you to aspire to be as Godlike as possible in forgiving and loving. We've all heard how the average person actualizes very little of his or her potential mental powers; the same is true of our spiritual potential. Lent as a holy season challenges you to reach for that potential, to aspire toward the greatness of soul that comes from cultivating virtues like justice, mercy and love." The e-mail went on, “A traditional view of Lent is that it's a time of sacrifice, restriction, and giving up things. Edward Hays wants us to see it as a time of expansion and growth. It is a time for both devotion and the virtues that enhance our connections with others.”

         As we prepare to enter into the 40 days of Lent, may we approach it as a time of expansion and growth – for devotion and virtues that help us connect with others. May we aspire toward the greatness of soul to which God is surely calling each of us this day and in all our days to come. Amen.

©2010 Lorraine Ljunggren