Do you remember Sister Act 2? I am going to try a poor imitation of it...
Sung Gospel style:
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away,
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.
Rapped:
All your works with joy surround you, earth and heaven reflect your rays
Stars and angels sing around you, center of unbroken praise
Field and forrest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea.
Chanting bird and flowing fountain, teach us what our praise should be.
There are many ways to sing this song. If you have seen the movie, another choir comes in with military precision and all in perfectly matched choir robes and probably sings more than four part harmonies. A song can bring out a response in us, maybe to lift us up, transport us to another time and place, sooth our savage breast, give us courage, or bring about healing.
Right now in Asbury University, there is a revival happening that is going on 24 hours a day, now 11 days straight where students are praying, singing, and preaching to each other. There is some wonder and praising about what is happening, there is some groups trying to co-opt it for their own agendas like saying its the end of the world, and there is some skepticism that students are just trying to get out of class. As much as I love Christian music, whether it be hymns, contemporary christian music, and even folk music, if the Spirit wasn't there, I am sure I would tire out and get bored after 3 or 4 days. If it lasts 40 days, that is alright. I posted on a friend's page talking about this, I will be looking for the fruit that this produces. Does it make them them kinder, more generous, seeking justice for the least of these? And then I read another article reminding me that fruit takes a long time to grow after the seed or small tree is planted. So we may not know what fruits will be harvested in the future from this gathering, and that is OK. Right now, they are having their mountain top experience and I hope it sustains them for a long time.
Just like Moses, Jesus goes to the mountain top to talk with God. Unlike Moses, he brings companions with him, Peter and James and John. They fall asleep! When they awake, they see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah and Jesus is letting his light shine. His clothes are a brilliant white and his face is like the sun. This, of course, freaked out the disciples and we have Peter telling them that they should built three structures, three tents or shrines, if you will so that they can set up shop, so they can stay there, if not forever, but for a long, long time. Imagine all the people that will come to see Jesus shining and Moses and Elijah, it will be great. And then, and then, a cloud envelopes them and they hear a voice, God's voice, saying, "This is my beloved son, who brings me joy! Listen to him." And then, and then, just like that, all the special effects are gone and they are left with Jesus alone once again.
When they descend the mountain, Jesus tells them not to share this until after he is gone. They go to the crowds and he finds the rest of the disciples trying to heal a young boy, but unable to. They go back to life and back to reality. But Jesus heals the young boy and continues to heal and serve the people they meet. Continues to share the kin-dom of God in preaching, healing, feeding, and reconciling God's people.
In letting our God-light shine, I hope that you have had moments of bliss, of the thin places as the Celtic Christians say, of times where you know that God is in this place, even if you didn't see Jesus shining or hear the voice. I hope that we will, as a church, have those moments here in worship, or out in nature, or serving our community and world.
That is the amazing thing about God and the Spirit, there is no formula that applies to everyone. I asked everyone to dress up that represents God's light shining through. I am wearing the tux that I got married in, that would inherited from my father, though putting it on last night I busted a button off the vest as I am now a little bigger. No matter if we are wearing out best and expensive outfit or our pajamas and claim that we are a home body, God's light can shine through in many different ways. We talked about being salt and light two Sundays ago. Letting our light shine. Sometimes letting our light shine is feeding the homeless, visiting those in the Care Center or homebound, shoveling somebody's sidewalk, protesting or informing ourselves about what our country or a company is doing wrong and making our voices heard. Using our talents to make something and then selling them to raise money for earthquake victims.
The world can be horrible at times, life can be tough, the future uncertain. Our mountain-top experiences don't cancel out the bad, but just primes our lights so they can be seen in tough times, they can be a light when things seem darkest, and they can give us the courage and help we need to dive back in and make the world a better place. Shine your light! Shine God's light! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. So we will be ready when the Saint go marching in...
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