A sermon on the Transfiguration presented by the Rev. Beth Marie Halvorsen, of the Lutheran Shepherd of the Hills Church, in Christ Chapel on February 7, 2005

When you hear the word, "cloud, clouds, cloudy" what comes to mind?
I invite you to share your responses. . . .
Image again the scene of the transfiguration:
"And a cloud overshadowed them…"
What sensations surrounded this experience?
What meanings could be attached?
Today I want to focus on two common associations of "cloud" -
cloud as the symbol of glory
as when looks up into the blue sky filled with white billowy clouds
and cloud as a symbol of suffering
as when life is confusing, sad, and difficult.
Cloud as a symbol of glory and as a symbol of suffering.

In the Gospel of Mark, there are three "Son of God" confessions --
the first one is at Jesus' baptism by God:
"Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
The Jesus of this first confession glows with radiant promise.
A sense of glory…

The third confession is made by a soldier at the cross,
observing the dying Jesus:
"Truly this man was the Son of God."
The Jesus of this third confession resounds with courage and steadfastness
that led to an innocent man being crucified.
The reality of suffering . . .

Now, the second confession is made by God
as Jesus is transfigured in the presence of the three disciples:
"This is my beloved Son; listen to him."
However, in the Jesus of the second confession,
glory and suffering clearly come together.
Could it be the cloud of God's presence
is able to hold suffering and glory together?

Just before going up the mountain with Peter, James, and John,
Jesus predicted his death.
When Peter heard this kind of talk,
he even rebuked Jesus for saying such a thing!
Then, after Jesus was transfigured before the three disciples
and Moses and Elijah appeared with him,
Jesus again speaks to them about his death
as they went down the mountain.
How confusing that must have been for the disciples to hear!
Do you see how glory and suffering
are intertwined in this transfiguration story?
It is the "paradox of divine power and weakness,
lowliness and majesty, in the person of Jesus Christ."
Clouds -- symbols of suffering and glory,
The transfiguration -- a time of intertwining glory and suffering.

Some of the most difficult experiences in my ministry
have been dealing with the death of a child --
whether from an unexpected illness or an accident.
The thought of losing one's child breaks one's heart --
and the horror of it sticks in your throat.
It is that which I cannot and do not want to even fathom for myself.
But this reality does happen -- and it is filled with
suffering, stark suffering…and death.
A great big, dark cloud of suffering overshadows times like these.

Yet, even in the midst of this suffering, this death,
a strange thing happens to those of us
sharing stories and participating in the service.
The cloud of God's presence, the glow of God's glory
softly shines through the horror and the tears.
As we call upon God in our grief,
we feel God's presence with us because we know
that God did love and still loves the one we love and us,
that God understands the pain of death, and
that God cares so deeply.

Two years ago when I did a service for an 11-year old girl,
we recalled stories about how she
embraced the good things in life, treasured people,
enjoyed God's good creation, and persevered in difficulty.
As we remembered how God worked through her,
we felt God was giving us the strength and direction
to try and do the same.
Suffering and Glory…
sometimes they are more intertwined than we realize
Could it be the cloud of God's presence
is able to hold suffering and glory together?

There are two different kinds of sufferings --
one which happens and is usually beyond our control --
for example, the unexpected death of a child
However, there is another kind of suffering that we choose --
because we care.

Several years ago, I visited an elderly man who took care of his ailing wife
who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease.
I sat and listened to his incredibly meticulous schedule
of how he did the laundry so she would have clean clothes,
of how he organized her medicines so she would have
the right ones at the right dosage at the right time,
of how he spoke to her so she would trust his love for her,
of how he figured out ways to take walks so she would be safe,
of how he decided the best times for them to nap so she would be rested.
As he spoke, he had soothing music playing --
which he had chosen carefully so that it would bring her comfort.
At one point, the song, "How Great Thou Art," started to play in the background.

For a moment there, his voice faded into the background.
As he continued with his meticulous litany of things he did to care for her,
I focused on the words, "How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art."
And I was dumbstruck to realize that the greatness of God was being revealed to me
not in the rolling thunder or the majestic mountains,
but through a man who was so faithful, patient, and tender
in his care for his wife who sometimes no longer knew him.
The cloud of God's presence and the soft glory of the transfiguration
glowed just for that moment
as he shared the sufferings he chose out of love of this his wife.
Suffering and glory are more intertwined than sometimes we realize.

Are you presently suffering in any way -- big or small?
Are you are hurting or confused or frustrated or angry?
Are you overwhelmed or lonely or scared or sad?
Is suffering near to you in any way?
Then so is God….then so is the soft glory of transfiguration.
For suffering and glory are more intertwined than we realize.
Maybe it is with suffering that God indeed begins his work
in changing us, in transforming us.
Maybe it is a glimpse of the glory that can be enough
to keep us going, to give us the strength, to shift the perspective a bit
as we deal with the realities of the suffering.

However, maybe suffering is not at the forefront of your life right now.
Are you basking in the light of good news?
Are you aware of the great gifts and excited by opportunities?
Life and ministry can be wonderful and glorious
as we give thanks for the ways in which God works
to mold and shape us into the people God would desire.
Presently I am excited how my final project is evolving
as I finish my doctoral studies.
I am also awed by some of the happenings at our congregation.
The development of lay leadership is incredible.
Some of our members are also involved with men
released from the state jail and
involved with LifeTools therapy through Alliance for Better Living.
The relationships between these men are incredible in their genuine depth.

Yet, even in the midst of this glory, we must be wise to remember
that suffering has been, is, or will be present again.
After all, the baptism of Jesus was followed by temptation story
And the resurrection was preceded by he crucifixion.
A remembrance of suffering can be enough
to keep us honest, open, and compassionate.
God's presence keeps us realistic, yet still hopeful
Maybe glory and suffering are more intertwined than we realized.

In the cloud of God's presence,
We, who are the people of God,
hold both suffering and glory together.
In the cloud of God's presence
we, who listen for Jesus,
are changed into his likeness
from one degree of glory to another.