WEBVTT 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:56.400 Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:58.719 And blessed be God's family. 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:01.439 Amen. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:03.120 Let's pray together. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:04.239 Almighty God. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.039 And from you the secrets are here. 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.400 The inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.960 Then we may perfectly love to you. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:23.840 And we're living in the world. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:16.800 Let us pray. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:24.560 O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:41.039 Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:42.400 Amen. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:32.480 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:38.879 To the elders he had said, Wait, wait here for us until we come to you again. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:41.439 For Aaron and her are with you. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:44.560 Whoever has a dispute may go to them. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.600 Then Moses went up on the mountain and the cloud covered the mountain. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:55.439 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai and the cloud covered it for six days. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.120 On the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:07.439 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.439 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:15.519 Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:20.160 Hear what the Spirit is saying of God the people. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:50.319 Against the Lord and against the Lord. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.560 One enthroned is in heaven and is laughing. 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:03.360 The Lord has them in derision. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.160 Then in wrath the Lord speaks to them. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:09.680 And divine rage fills them with terror. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:12.959 I myself have set my king. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:15.759 Upon my holy hill of Lion. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:18.800 Let me announce the decree of the Lord. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:22.160 The Lord said to me, You are my son. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:24.959 This day have I begotten you. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:29.600 Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:32.560 And the ends of the earth for your possession. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:38.720 And shatter them like a piece of pottery. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:41.199 And now you kings, be wise. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.000 Be warned, you rulers of the earth. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:46.639 Submit to the Lord with fear. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.519 And with trembling bow down the earth. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:52.800 Lest the Lord be angry and you perish. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:56.319 For my wrath is faithfully kindled. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:58.720 Happy are they all. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:57.279 When we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:02.000 But we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:06.879 For he received honour and glory from God the Father. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:20.160 When that voice was conveyed to him by the majestic glory, saying, This is my son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:28.319 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were waiting with him on the holy mountain. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:33.440 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:45.919 You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:09:06.320 First of all, you must understand this that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation because no prophecy ever came by human will, but by men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:10.159 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:16.080 Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:23.279 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:26.799 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:31.440 And then Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here if you wish. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:36.000 I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:43.759 While Peter was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, This is my son, the beloved. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.559 With him I am well pleased. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:48.000 Listen to him. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:52.720 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:57.039 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Get up and do not be afraid. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:00.799 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:07.759 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:10.799 The gospel of the Lord. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:45.840 The last Sunday of Epiphany always ends with the story of the Transfiguration, even though the feast of the Transfiguration comes again this summer. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:49.279 We always presage Lent with this. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:58.399 The tradition I've been told is because we have an image of Christ's glory that's meant to get us through the season of Lent. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.159 I don't buy it. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:11.519 The reason I don't buy it is if you continue to read the story, the disciples come down the mountain, they encounter somebody with an unclean spirit, and they can do nothing. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:15.279 They have this vision of light. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.960 I think they were blinded by the light. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.279 Listen to him. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:37.919 All we hear in the story is that Jesus shows up and looks different, and he's talking to Moses and Elijah. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:43.679 Disciples heard them talking, but they didn't listen to what they were saying. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.320 Otherwise, we know what they said. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.000 I have to tell you, I'm pretty curious. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.120 More on that in a second. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:57.279 I'm going to talk to you about transfiguration because actually this day or this theme is the reason I identified with the Episcopal Church. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:05.840 Long time ago, I was worshiping in a Methodist church I was working as a youth director, actually, and I was looking for some spirituality I wasn't getting. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:11.759 So I went to an Episcopal church, and the first Sunday I went, it was Reverend Janice Melbourne Charleron. 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:16.559 This is in Atlanta, and she highlighted this thing about transfiguration. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:20.080 I just still can't get out of my head, and this is like 20 years ago. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:24.240 Transfiguration is not always positive. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:30.960 And they were showing at the High Museum in Atlanta something called the Innocence Project. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:37.440 The Innocence Project takes, compares or rather contrasts, two photos. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:50.320 One of somebody convicted for a crime based on eyewitness testimony, and then the next photo is the person who using DNA evidence committed the crime. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:15:01.279 So the person who was imprisoned wrongly based on eyewitness testimony, and the person who DNA evidence showed actually did the crime. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:07.759 Nothing, except for one thing. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:09.279 Can you guess what it was? 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.200 They were black. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.519 In Atlanta is 60% black. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:29.279 And even there, the eyewitness transfigured from an innocent person to a guilty person based on the quantity of melanin in their skin. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:40.480 I'd like to think we're past it, but look, I don't want to over talk about driving, but honestly, when people drive in ways I don't like and I'm able to go past them, I always look at them. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:45.279 I want to know what bucket to put them in. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.120 And not in a good way. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:51.759 I transfigure people myself. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:54.000 It turns out our brains have evolved to do this. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.120 Our brain does not like uh unresolved narratives. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:02.000 It really likes either-ores, loves categorizing people. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:08.720 And I just want to put before you transfiguration cannot be enough because it can go either way. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.879 I'm going to make up a word. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.480 Transphonation. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.679 That's what the disciples didn't do. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:24.720 It's what we need to do so that we don't find ourselves making the same mistake. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:30.799 Now, the voice from heaven is really interesting because I don't know if you noticed, it comes right out of the psalm. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:34.159 This is my son, my beloved, with you I'm well pleased. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.000 And in the psalm, it's not talking about Jesus. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.200 Did you notice that? 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:39.919 It's talking about the king of Israel. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:47.759 Sometimes we don't realize that the phrase son of God, actually in the ancient world, didn't mean you were a demigod, it meant you were favored by God. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.200 Favored. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.799 Who else was a son of God? 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:56.480 Well, according to Rome, Augustus, Julius, Tiberius. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:58.159 They said they were sons of God. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:01.919 I don't know if you've read the good book, Jesus never calls himself the son of God. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:05.440 He calls himself the son of man. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:08.240 As a contrast with the Caesars. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:12.559 They say there's something ontologically special about them. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:15.039 I'm telling you, I'm just like you. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:23.519 The Psalm's a little bit of a tough one, and I want to say it echoes out what happens in the story. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:31.759 In the Psalms, uh, God seems really mad and uh will break enemies like a pot and distribute the pieces. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:36.960 And I don't know if you noticed when the disciples hear God's voice, what they do. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.920 They cower in fear. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:46.720 And notice the ministry of Jesus don't be afraid. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:49.839 We're on the precipice of Lent. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:53.440 What I hope you hear more than anything is going into Lent. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.680 Don't be afraid. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.240 What do we do with the Psalm? 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.880 I think it explains how we feel. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.960 But I don't explain, I don't think it explains how God is. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:10.319 How we feel is not always how God is. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:15.200 I'm going to return to that in just a second, but you know, I just have to walk around this a little bit. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:18.079 Moses and the prophets. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.160 We get to hear the Moses story today. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:24.960 Of course, most people say, aha, look, Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.079 What a neat story. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.200 Case closed. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:30.240 That could be the case, but I don't know what to do with that spiritually. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:33.759 That doesn't inform my way of life in any way that it's a neat story. 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:37.039 So I want to put before you maybe what's going on. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:39.200 We get to hear Moses go up today. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:41.920 We hear he goes up and spends 40 days talking to God. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:45.519 And I don't know if you know this, Moses comes down transfigured. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:52.319 If you read the story out, Moses' face shines with the Shekinah, the glory of God, in Hebrew. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:55.440 If you read the Vulgate, Moses grows horns. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:01.119 If you look at Michelangelo's statue in Rome of Moses, he's got two horns on his head. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:04.799 Michelangelo was making fun of Jerome's translation because it was wrong. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:09.680 Anyway, Moses comes down transfigured because he spent this time with God and he shines. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:18.000 And I want to tell you what I we can only use what we call our sanctified imagination when we imagine the conversation Jesus had with these guys. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:22.319 And I'll tell you in the past, I thought maybe Jesus was calling them to the carpet. 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:29.839 If you know the story, Moses gives us instruction from God that permits slavery to exist. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:34.960 And I wonder if Jesus was saying in the past, Moses, I think you got that wrong. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:42.400 If you know the Elijah story, Elijah with his own hand kills 900 people. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:49.039 And I wonder if Jesus was saying, you know, Elijah, yeah, I don't know if you needed to do that. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:56.799 I thought, well, you know, maybe Jesus isn't bothering with the instruction Moses gave. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:05.440 Maybe Jesus is saying, hey, Moses, when you threw your wife out, when you threw Zipporah out, I think we could have really thought about that some more. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.680 But I realized, why be negative? 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:10.799 Because honestly, I think that's sometimes the approach I tend to have. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:13.680 I mean, I went to college to learn how to be critical anyway, right? 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:19.359 And I want to say, I'd like to have a different spirituality that looks for the positive instead of the negative. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:22.000 So here's another option. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:26.400 Jesus has already set his face toward Jerusalem, says the story. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.759 He's going there. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.079 He knows it's going to be tough. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:32.000 Fair to say, I think. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:41.920 And he's talking to these people on the edge of toughness, and I wonder if he isn't asking them mentoring questions. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:44.319 If you know the Elijah story. 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:48.000 Elijah went up on top of Mount Carmel and called down fire, right? 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:52.720 And God answered and burned up the Israelite sacrifice and not the one to Baal. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.839 It's like a really good moment publicly. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:00.319 And the next thing happens is Elijah has burnout. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.960 He's afraid for his life. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:05.359 He's not sure God cares about him. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.920 And he runs out to the desert and demands a sign. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.599 And maybe you've read this before. 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:13.119 God's voice isn't in the fire and it's not in the whirlwind. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:15.519 It's in the sound of sheer silence. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:23.680 And I wonder if Jesus said, I know the way of life, I'm getting ready to walk. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:26.160 It's going to lead me to some burnout. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:29.039 Elijah, how can I avoid it? 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.440 Teach me. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.799 Teach me. 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.640 You got the experience. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:39.839 How do I handle my own Lenten journey to Jerusalem? 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.000 You probably know a little bit about Moses. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:58.720 Moses leads the people and gives them the instruction, and he gets mad a couple of times, you know, like he one time he sees an Egyptian mistreating a Hebrew slave, and Moses kills that guy with his own hands. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:21:59.759 And it 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:04.079 Another time Moses is leading the people through the wilderness and they're thirsty. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.759 I mean, a bunch of whiners. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.400 It's a desert. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.440 What are you thirsty about? 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.400 And what do you know? 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.680 The people complain. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.279 Losers. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:14.240 I mean, but you would complain if you were in a desert with no water. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:16.799 So the first time Moses hits a rock, water comes out. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:19.359 The second time God says, talk to the rock. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.799 And Moses is frustrated. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:22.240 He's had it up to here. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.359 He hits the rock. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.319 You know this? 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:27.599 And I wonder if Jesus didn't say Moses. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.799 How do I handle my anger? 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:43.039 So that at the end of my life I can look back and be proud of how I handle my anger instead of missing out on the promised land. 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.079 That's what I need this Lent. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.720 I don't need a neat vision of Jesus and the law and the prophets. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:56.799 I need to know when you get tired from making a change, how do you handle it? 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:04.559 When people have to get along with, how do you tuck away your anger so you don't strike the rock? 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:06.640 How do you do that? 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:12.880 And I think that's why we hear it every time before Lent. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.759 Now, you could approach Lent. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.680 You know how many days Lent is? 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.119 40. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:22.000 Yeah, it's 47. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:24.160 You know the Sundays don't count, right? 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:26.640 So the Sundays are feast days. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.400 So that's why we have 47. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.160 But it's it's 40 days, right? 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:35.039 And the whole goal of Lent is, if we're honest about it, is memento moral. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:36.000 You're gonna die. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:39.839 You are gonna die one day, and what do you want to leave behind? 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.680 Death or life? 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:51.839 So we call the question every year am I doing things that will die with me, or am I doing things that will outlive me? 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:57.039 Those things are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.920 Right? 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:10.160 And you could approach this week and say, you know, God, I'm gonna show you how much I love you by how miserable I make myself for the next 47 days. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.000 I'm glad you left. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.759 That's how we do this. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:23.279 I'm gonna give up chocolate and be a jerk to everybody in my life because I need it, and that's gonna show God how much I love God. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:27.519 If you want to do that, you can't. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:35.359 We talked about that, this at the men's group, and I really want to come back to that phrase. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:44.880 What do you think God would tell you if God only spoke to you out loud one time from a cloud? 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:48.000 What would God tell you? 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:53.440 I normally think God would tell me something really important. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:58.400 And probably something like, you know, Mike, really. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:02.000 You're just such a disappointment in this area. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.599 You just need to up your game. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:08.480 Or you've chosen to do this thing, that's not a good use of resources, turn it around. 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:14.000 My spiritual journey told me, look for God's criticism. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.440 And this might just be me. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:22.160 The scariest thing that God can tell me. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.960 You are my son. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.519 My beloved. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:31.200 With you, I am wealthy. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:40.240 I am more afraid of God telling me that than God saying, you better get your butt into gear or you're going to hell. 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:46.559 And I think the disciples are afraid of that too. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.960 Which is why they cower in fear. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:53.680 And notice what Jesus says don't be afraid. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:26:02.640 I don't want to sound wildly liberal here, but look, if the kings of Israel were the sons of God, beloved and favored by God, so are you. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:10.400 And that's why we anoint you with oil when you're baptized, and that's why we anoint you with oil we're sick, because that's how you made kings in the Bible. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:14.319 You put oil on them, and if you've been baptized, you had that. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:27.759 To show that you are in fact royalty to God, which means when you approach Lent, I want to suggest to you one of the biggest Linton disciplines you could ever take on is to stop being afraid of God. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:32.160 I'm not gonna get it this year. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:34.480 I'm gonna have to do it again next year. 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:36.319 I can tell you this already. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:42.720 You're gonna look in your bulletin and you're going to see a renewal of vows because we did this this morning at 8 o'clock. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:53.279 We had a couple who was married in 2019, right before the pandemic, in the Catholic Church, and they, one of the other members is an Episcopalian, and they wanted to have a ceremony here, so they've waited and they renew their vows. 00:26:54.079 --> 00:27:08.880 And so, you know, I don't want to bore you, but I just have to say, like, the things about my marriage that drive me crazy are the fact, honestly, that my wife says, You are my husband, my beloved, with you, I'm well pleased. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:17.200 And she says that like 19 years in, and um so much so that like you have to start to contend with that. 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:21.359 The first two years, you can file that away. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:27.200 If you're like me, there was no seven-year itch, it was the 10-year itch, and I had to scratch that for three years. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:39.599 And then having done that itch, right, because marriage is really, really hard and really lovely at the same time, then you have to contend with the idea that your husband or your wife might love you more than you love yourself. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:44.160 And I think that is perhaps why marriage is sacramental, actually. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:51.200 Because you get to hear God's voice in another human being saying, I love you just like you are. 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:53.920 And there's some magic in love for me. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:58.640 Like my wife does these behaviors that if anybody else did them, I would drive me crazy. 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:02.160 But when she does them for the first 10 years, it was cute. 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:06.319 Now, we had to contend with the lack of cuteness in years 10 through 13. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:11.359 Uh, but having having turned that corner, right, there was something magical. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.640 Like, I don't know how it is I came to love this person. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.720 It was like something outside of myself. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:18.880 I don't know if that's your experience. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.160 I don't know. 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:31.920 But again, what I know that is magical is I transfigured her habits into cute things instead of things she was doing to intentionally disrespect me because she was a loath and vile individual. 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:36.480 Because she's not that, you see. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:41.039 And neither are you, and neither is your co-worker that does the things that irk you. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:44.319 And so this I say is the thing about marriage, it's sacramental. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:48.079 It's a practice ground for how we're supposed to treat everybody else. 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:58.160 And what if you could look at your coworker or your Uncle Rick or whoever it is that is driving you nuts, and they do that thing, and you say, Oh, that's cute, you do it that way. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:29:03.119 Instead of you loathsome and vile individual, you're the harbinger of the Antichrist. 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:12.160 I mean, those are the kinds of thoughts that I usually have in my head, and that's the kind of transfiguration that will get you nowhere for the next 47 days except miserable. 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:24.960 The point of Lent, my opinion, is that you can enjoy the one life you have more than you already do, instead of hate the only life you will have. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:39.920 And as a result, sometimes we might be called to choose something that is difficult and better instead of something that is easy and just regularly achievable. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.920 I know what it likes. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:45.039 I know what it looks like not to eat chocolate for 40 days. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.880 I know how to measure that. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:51.359 I mean, maybe that'll help. 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.559 I just don't think so. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.759 I I don't. 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:58.720 I don't know how to measure what it's like for me not to be afraid of God. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:05.200 But I know my life will be better if I try. 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:10.160 And I know your life will also be better if I try. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:14.720 Because I won't be coming from a center of fear and anxiety. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:22.160 Lynch is not about easy disciplines, it's about ones that make your life better. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.680 So take the hard thing. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:29.519 Not because you need to earn God's approval, because you already have it. 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:35.119 You are my daughter. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:37.039 Laura's stuff. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:39.039 With you, God is well pleased. 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:42.000 You, Michelle, are God's daughter. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:44.559 With you, God is well pleased. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:55.200 And when I think about what makes my marriage work, frankly, it's the fact that as bad as it gets, the thing we've been able to do is listen to each other. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:00.000 Transfiguration can go south in a hurry. 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:06.480 But when we actually listen to somebody else, it's a check and it's a balance. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:15.279 And hopefully what we start to see is the light of Christ coming out of the people that drive us craziest. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.000 I'd like to win the lottery. 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:21.759 I think it'd be really cool. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:24.640 I think it'd be really nice. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:30.559 But if I had one wish in my life, it would be to be content with the life that I have. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:34.480 Because no matter where I go, it'll always work. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:40.799 And my second wish is to be content with the people in my life just like they are. 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:44.160 I don't know what you need to this land. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.079 I don't know. 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:58.799 But I do know that what the world needs is people who are able to sit and listen and who are able to see the light of Christ coming out of the most difficult people and places imaginable. 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:02.400 I hope your marriage is doing that for you. 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:06.160 I hope being part of a community is doing that for you. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:15.039 And ultimately, what I love about this place is that we sure can do more, especially if we'll do it together. 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:32.319 Please join me as we pray our faith in the words of the Nicene Creek. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:41.039 We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:33:14.559 We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally with the Father, God, true God, from true God, the day, of one being with the Father, through all things from May, Christ for our salvation, he came from heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became a body from Virgin Mary, and made many. 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:21.039 For our sake he was crucified under, he suffered death and was buried. 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:30.640 On the third day he rose again, in accordance with the scriptures, he ascended in heaven, and is kingdom in the right hand of the Father. 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:37.279 He will come again in glory to the death of the living and the dead, and in the kingdom of the hand of the Lord. 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:44.960 We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who will receive from the Father and the Son. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:48.720 With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:51.279 He has spoken through the prophets. 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:55.519 We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic church. 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:59.440 We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:04.640 We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.519 Amen. 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:39.280 Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:47.280 Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you. 00:34:51.119 --> 00:35:03.840 We pray for Michael, our presiding bishop, for Andy, Hector, Jeff, Kay, and Scott, our bishops, and the diocesan circle of prayer, St. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:06.639 Mary Magdalene Manor, St. 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:09.599 Mary's Lampassus, St. 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:25.920 Matthew's Austin, and for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the priests in our community, Mike, Craig, and Jim, and for all bishops, priests and deacons. 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:49.920 We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world, for all the members of the armed forces, and for all who struggle for peace and justice, that they may act with prudence and vision to plant the seeds of your kingdom everywhere. 00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:53.760 And that there may be justice and peace on the earth. 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:57.119 We pray for our parish and our vestry. 00:35:57.760 --> 00:36:02.400 That our community may discern clearly and minister effectively. 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.679 We pray for St. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:09.199 Thomas the Apostles' School, for those who teach and those who learn. 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:14.239 That we may be bearers of your grace for all who come through our doors. 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:19.599 Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:23.199 That our works may find favor in your sight. 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:28.159 Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble. 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:31.199 That they may be delivered from their distress. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:36.159 Give to the departed eternal rest, especially leave. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:41.280 We praise you for St. 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:45.920 Thomas the Apostle and your saints who have entered into joy. 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:50.239 May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom. 00:36:50.719 --> 00:37:20.559 Let us give thanks for our blessings and pray for our own needs and those of others, especially Chris, Miriam, Pat, Isabel, Terry, Rich, Billy, Sue, Jo, Jan, Sean, Lunan, Joe, Alice, and those the congregation wishes to name at this time silently are allowed. 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:35.119 Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit, you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth. 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:49.599 Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. 00:37:50.239 --> 00:38:01.840 We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns forever and ever. 00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:07.280 Let us confess our sin against God and our neighbors. 00:38:46.079 --> 00:38:49.199 Through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.000 Amen. 00:38:50.719 --> 00:39:00.960 The Almighty and compassionate Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. 00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:01.840 Amen. 00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:10.000 So uh we can stand up because that confession and absolution worked, right? 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:13.599 This is why we stand because it worked. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:18.960 And since it worked, the peace of the Lord be always with you. 00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:20.559 And also with you. 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:53.199 If you're new to us or haven't done this before, uh, right behind the room you're sitting in is the room we call the Narthex, and in there are these little cards that say welcome. 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:58.880 And we'd be tremendously grateful if you'd fill one out and just put it in a little blue basket so we have a record of your visit. 00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:00.639 And thanks for worshiping with us today. 00:40:00.800 --> 00:40:06.320 Um there's a couple uh announcements I want to call to your attention, but it's always good to look backward just for a second. 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:12.639 Uh thank you uh enthusiastically uh for your generous support of the school gala we had last night. 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.519 Many of you were there, and it was just super sweet. 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:23.599 And one of the things you taught me off the bat, and I'm gonna give credit to where it's due, Rob Puckett told me the very first time we had an auction here. 00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:27.280 He said, you know, Mike, you don't go looking for a deal. 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:31.760 What you do is you go with a donation in your mind, and then you pick the souvenir you want. 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:33.840 And the that is how you are. 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:38.079 When a cake sells for$600, that is how you are. 00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:40.800 And so it was just lovely. 00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:42.960 And thank you for supporting our school. 00:40:43.199 --> 00:40:48.000 And you're gonna get to see some rapid improvements on the playground that are coming in the new week. 00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:51.440 Saying this is the thing we use to serve the community in addition to the school. 00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:53.039 So thanks for that support. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.559 Really, really lovely evening. 00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:59.599 If you see Renee Beelsky or Michelle Michelle, just give them a thanks. 00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:01.679 Planning an event for a hundred people. 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:02.639 Yeah. 00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:06.480 I guess I do that, but uh, they did it well, unlike me. 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:09.280 So please give them thanks and thank you for supporting. 00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:26.880 Um, there's some lovely community news, and I love we get to do this in church because many of you know that our good friend Anna Christofferson, who's been ushering, has been desperately looking for a job, and she found one at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which is really cool. 00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:29.360 Thank you, Anna. 00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:35.119 So she didn't just find a job at a museum, she found a job at like the best museum in the United States. 00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:36.639 Like, this is really cool, right? 00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:38.400 So uh lovely to celebrate that. 00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:39.920 So we got a couple of things coming up. 00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:45.039 First thing is we had breakfast this morning to celebrate Larry and Jennifer's renewal of vows. 00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:47.760 By the way, I do those if you ever want one. 00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:53.199 We can do them in church, we can do them at home, but it's a lovely thing truly to renew your vows. 00:41:53.440 --> 00:41:55.360 Um, you don't have to wait till 50th. 00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:57.440 I mean, 41 is good enough. 00:41:57.599 --> 00:41:59.760 Uh they did it at three. 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:03.119