Kahu's Manao
Keawala‘i Congregational Church
United Church of Christ (USA)
Last Sunday After Epiphany
Transfiguration
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Rev. Kealahou C. Alika
“Holy Encounter”
Exodus
24:12-18 & Matthew 17:1-9
My home in Wailuku is surrounded by homes that were built in the 1940’s. The lot sizes are relatively small and so the houses are located fairly close to one another.
But I do have a partial view of Haleakalā out of my bathroom window between the houses of two of my neighbors. After a day filled with clouds and rain I looked out of my bathroom window around 5:00 o’clock on Tuesday and noticed that the summit of Haleakalā was covered by a blanket of snow.
I grew up on the island of Hawai‘i. Every winter the snow comes to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. But that is not the case on Haleakalā. Since moving to Maui seventeen years ago I remember one other year when the snow that fell on the mountain was visible.
I was so excited on Tuesday afternoon that I had to call some of you to ask: "Have you seen the snow on Haleakalā?" In almost every instance each person said, “Yes,” and I wondered why it was that I did not notice it earlier in the day.
I spent the week thinking not only about the snow but about the stories I remember of what makes Haleakalā a remarkable and special place. Our nā kūpuna or ancestors would say Haleakalā is the wao Akua or realm of the gods and so it is a sacred mountain, it is a sacred place.
It is said that Pele, the goddess of the volcano, made Haleakalā her home after being chased from place to place by her older sister, Namakaokaha‘i, the goddess of the sea. Whenever Pele pounded out craters of lava, Namakaokaha‘i would rush in to put out the fire.
In a climatic battle between Pele and Namakaokaha‘i, Pele is killed and her bones are gathered up and laid to rest in a place called Ka‘iwiopele. However, Pele’s demise is brief. It is said that the gods find favor in her and she is turned into an everlasting spirit. She moves on to Maunakea on the island of Hawai‘i and it is there that she made her home.
Today Haleakalā, like Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, is home to Poliahu, the goddess of snow, and to Lilinoe, the goddess of the mist. I know that the belief of our ancestors in a cosmology of many gods may be troubling to some of us. After all, the tradition of monotheism or the belief in one God is foundational not only to Christianity but also to Islam and Judaism.
But whether one believes in the stories of our ancestors or not what is clear is their understanding that the gods lived at the summit or highest level of the earth and so such places were considered sacred. In that sense they were no different than our Hebrew or Christian ancestors.
The biblical landscape of Palestine is dominated by two formidable mountain chains. To the east and to the west of the Jordan River are numerous mountains extending from the north to the south. That each of these mountains has “religious associations should come as no surprise, for throughout the ancient world . . . mountains were imbued with religious significance and symbolism.” (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, Paul J. Achtemeier, Editor, Harper & Row Publishers, San Francisco, 1985, page 661)
The ancient Hebrews were aware of the injunctions against deifying mountains. God was to be worshiped without restriction to any particular location. (Ezekiel 18:6, 11, 15; Jeremiah 3:2, 6; Hosea 4:13)
Yet there are numerous references in the Bible to sacred mountains, (Genesis 22:14; Exodus 3:1; Deuteronomy 11:29; Joshua 8:30; 2 Kings 4:24; Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 8:18; Ezekiel 28:14) two of which are mentioned in our readings this morning – Mt. Sinai where Moses went with Joshua and an unnamed high mountain where Jesus went with Peter, James, and John. In both places God’s presence was revealed, first to Moses and later to Jesus. In such holy encounters both of their lives were profoundly transformed.
We speak of their encounters with God as a moment of transfiguration. In verse 2 of our reading from The Gospel According to Matthew (Matthew 17:2) the word “transfigured” is translated from the Greek verb metamorphoo. It is a verb that suggests deep changes within a person. It is a metamorphosis or change filled with mystery.
Both Moses and Jesus encounter God on a cloud-covered mountaintop. Both hear God’s voice within the covering cloud. And as they both descend from the mountain, Jesus’ face shines as did Moses’ face.
Although Joshua accompanied Moses to the mountain, we are not told of his reaction when Moses returned from the mountain the second time. (Exodus 34:29-35) However, we are told that Aaron and all of the Israelites who saw Moses were afraid to come near him because the skin of his face was shining. It may be that Joshua felt the same way but again we are not told of his reaction.
Of the three who went with Jesus to the mountain, it was Peter who reacted immediately. He was so excited he seemed unaware that even as he was speaking God interrupted him and spoke. When Peter, James, and John heard God’s voice they fell to the ground and they were overcome with fear.
Peter was so excited when he saw Moses and Elijah and heard God’s voice he wanted to build three dwellings – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. However as he listened to God’s voice, he realized that God was making the same affirmation Jesus heard at his baptism: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew3:17; 17:5) The one difference was the command: “listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5)
For Peter, James, and John and for all of us, we now understand that listening to Jesus will reveal what is required to follow him on the journey to Jerusalem. It will not be an easy journey but Jesus offers words of reassurance, “Get up and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7)
In the end the transfiguration of Moses and Jesus is really about our own transfiguration. Where is it that we encounter God? Where do we go to feel close to God? Like our ancient Hawaiian ancestors and our ancient Hebrew and Christian ancestors, we may find ourselves drawn to the top of a mountain.
But we also know that God’s presence is not limited to a particular place or location. God’s dwelling place is not confined to a mountaintop. God’s dwelling place may be found throughout every corner of heaven and earth and in the hearts of all. God's presence is with us now in this place as we gather around the table that has been set before us.
Mahalo ke Akua! Amen.