Our Transforming Journey with God - Last Sunday of Epiphany

This sermon was preached at my field education site on 22 Feb 2009 on Transfiguration Sunday. I preached on the text of 2 Kings 2:1-12 and hoped I could grab the attention of the kids and keep the adults thinking about the grace found in the unfamiliar, using the story of Elijah, Elisha, and Shrek!

This morning, on this last Sunday after Epiphany, we gather as a community drawing close to the end of our seasonal journey through the light and joy of Epiphany. And as one season ends, so another begins this week as we mark the start of our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday. As Christians, we are a pilgrim people, baptized in Christ and sent out with a mission; we are people on a journey. Each of our lives, individually and collectively, is marked with a series of journeys that begin and end and begin again. And if we are able to attentively engage our journeys through life with an open mind and a discerning heart, we will discover the transforming power of Christ present in our lives.

One of my favorite stories is about the transforming journey of a cantankerous and curmudgeonly character seeking a life of simple solitude. The character’s name is Shrek and perhaps many of us are familiar with the story of this lonely Ogre. Shrek is quite content in the swamp he calls home until he is disturbed by the unwanted invasion of displaced fairy tale creatures. Unable to scare his uninvited guests away, Shrek is forced to confront the local prince that sent these creatures into his swamp. We soon discover that the prince is on a journey of his own; an earthly journey of transforming his princely power into that of a king, but first, he must have a bride. And so, Shrek and the prince strike a bargain: Shrek will journey into lands unknown and bring back the fair maiden and the prince will grant Shrek a quiet and peaceful swamp. Once the bargain is made, the story’s focus turns to a familiar journey…a journey that we have all likely heard many times. The beautiful princess is trapped in a castle and is cursed to live a lonely life until she is saved by the handsome knight in shining armor. Shrek’s journey follows this very common formula and, with a few exceptions we might be tricked in to thinking that there is not much more to the story than the familiar tale we have heard many times. But this journey has many odd twists to it: Shrek is obviously not a handsome prince: he is the ugly and fearsome Ogre…the “other” that the townspeople despise; and the beautiful princess is beautiful during the day but she has a terrible secret: when the sun goes down, she becomes an ugly Ogre herself…and she is told that her odd curse will remain until she finds her true love. Shrek and the Princess are cast in roles very well known to us, but with their oddly unique characteristics, we are confronted with the tension of the familiar against the unfamiliar; things known to us against things unknown; and if we, like Shrek and the Princess, dare to live in to this tension, we might just be transformed along the journey.

Our first scripture lesson this morning is also a transforming journey story of two prophets well known to us: Elijah and Elisha. This story is surrounded by endings and new beginnings: the previous chapter of 2 Kings tells of the death of King Ahaziuh and the following chapter begins the story of King Jehoram; and within the scripture lesson, we hear of the end of the prophetic mission of Elijah and the commissioning of Elisha. The story also contains an abundance of familiar places and themes in the life of the Jewish people. Elijah leads us on a journey through the familiar cities of Bethel and Jericho and dramatically crosses the River Jordan on dry ground, separating the waters with his mantle. The geography and actions of Elijah’s journey recall the actions of Moses and Joshua and hold great significance in Jewish religious events celebrated throughout the year. However, Elijah’s journey also contains some curious details that should make us scratch our heads and think a bit. Throughout the journey, Elijah continues to tell Elisha to stay behind as he ventures forward to the next city, even though he is fully aware that Elisha is his committed and devout disciple. The prophets along the journey continue to tell Elisha that his master will soon depart, implying that the prophet Elisha just might not know; and Elisha oddly responds, “Yes, I know; be silent.” And finally, the story climaxes with Elisha’s request for a “double share of Elijah’s spirit;” a request that would be familiar because the eldest son always inherited a double share of his father’s estate according to Jewish law. Elijah responds, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” Elijah’s reply is curious because we hear the Lord speak to Elijah earlier in 1 Kings, the Lord says to Elijah: “You shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.” (1 Kings 19:16) The scripture lesson goes on to say that Elijah and Elisha continued “walking and talking.” They continued onward: one journey ending, one journey beginning. They continued onward in the tension of the familiar and unfamiliar. And even though Elisha knew that he had been anointed as prophet in place of Elijah, he kept watching and crying out as Elijah was taken up to be with his Lord. When Elijah was no longer visible, Elisha mourned and then began his mission of prophecy to the Jewish people.

This morning we also heard Mark’s account of the Transfiguration of Christ; the dazzling white transformation of the Son of Man – a lesson we always hear on this Sunday of the church year. The Transfiguration, which is the in-breaking of the transforming glory of Christ, and Elisha’s story both point to the transforming action of God in our midst. Elisha’s story is important to us on this last Sunday of Epiphany because the lesson highlights the significance of paying attention to the unfamiliar in the midst of the familiar. Elisha’s journey provides us with a wonderful example of a faithful servant of God who is patient and attentive to the very end. Although Elisha had already been anointed to inherit Elijah’s place of prophetic leadership, he does not abandon the journey, but instead embraces the mystery of the unfamiliar. Elisha’s example serves as a model to us as we journey together in Christ.

The story of Shrek and the beautiful princess nearly concludes exactly as we might imagine: Shrek returns to the quiet and loneliness of his swamp and the power hungry prince and the princess hold a grand wedding at the palace. But if that was simply the end, I suppose I wouldn’t be telling you the story this morning. As the journey is nearly over, Shrek is prompted to further reflection by his humorous and talkative travelling companion. Shrek has been aware of many unfamiliar aspects of his journey, but has convinced himself that the familiar and convenient actions of the past are simply the best course of action for the future. His reflections change his mind and, no longer stuck in the patterns of his past; he bursts out of his swamp (quite literally – on the back of a dragon) and transforms his life and the princess’ life forever.

We too have an opportunity to reflect on this passing season of Epiphany and search for the unfamiliar in the midst of the familiar. We have nearly 72 hours of “Alleluia’s” left to reflect and to keep watching until this season of Epiphany is out of sight. And then on Wednesday, may we begin our Lenten journeys and follow Christ; and may we be mindful that in the midst of our Lenten journey, we are called to seek not only what is familiar but what is unfamiliar; we are called to seek not only those things that are known to us, but also those things that are unknown. On the very edge of the familiar sits the wonder and mystery of the unfamiliar and it is in the tension between the familiar and unfamiliar that we are transformed by the power of Christ. As we end this season of Epiphany and prepare to walk with Christ on a Lenten journey that leads to the cross and the resurrection of Easter, may we have the courage to seek out the unfamiliar things and be transformed forever. Amen.