Transformed

Throughout recent years we have seen again and again just how thin is a veneer of civilization that covers the rotten wood of the way we otherwise treat each other.

“Hooliganism”, some shout, and others retort “Police brutality”.

A perceived slight, a verdict thought to have gone awry, damage or hurt of some sort...it doesn't take much of any of these to become an excuse for pillaging and destruction that has nothing to do with the problem and everything to do with basic human greed, self-centeredness, and sin.

Whenever these things happen, with all of the seething emotions involved, pastors and people in the church in the areas involved have a hard time hearing much, and especially our lessons today that center around the transformation that Jesus intends to do in and among us.

May we not be so annoyed or angry that we cannot listen to his Word!

Whether the situation is one of anger or vindictiveness, sorrow or loneliness, fear or despair, or a self-induced cheeriness,

God's intention is to transform us, by his power from outside of ourselves.

Toys that were popular some years back played out this theme.

By outward appearance they were fearsome looking weapons of destruction, laser cannons and all the other equipment.

But, by manipulating all the parts, the weapons could be transformed into a useful kind of vehicle, truck, or car.

It doesn't happen all by itself.

The toy has to be physically handled.

Its new job is completely different from the old mission of violence.

Now it is time to see how this happens in scripture.

Our First lesson today includes the story of the transformation of Paul and Annanias.

By that power of God from outside of Paul, the prosecutor becomes the great missionary.

As one writer has phrased it: “The bitter well of hatred from which he had been drawing his sustenance is sweetened by Jesus' touch and changed into an eternal spring of love and dedication.”

First, note that he did not do this by himself.

Second, recognize that we are talking about a total reorientation of life... not only for Paul, but also for Annanias.

That man is caught up in fear and loathing of Saul the persecutor.

He says, “Lord, you want me to go where? And do what?

This guy has been harming anyone upon whom he can get his hands!”

His apprehension is understandable, but Jesus transforms it into obedience, and it leads to great blessings for himself and the whole Christian community.

Who could have guessed it? No one!

Annanias openly accepting and presenting the former persecutor, Saul, as now a brother in the faith?!

The little Christian community needed to be changed also from its suspicion and fear.

Everyone needed transformation!

Then there is Peter in the gospel story today.

The disciples had gone back out to fish.

Evidently the meaning of the resurrection is still not firmly fixed in their hearts and minds.

They have been fishing all night, unsuccessfully, and are not far from shore when the voice advises them to let down their nets on the other side of the boat.

When that tactic is successful, suddenly it dawns on them who it was that was giving the advice.

And then follows a very strange verse: When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes and jumped into the sea.”

Most folks have thought that Peter was so excited to see the Lord that he did not want to wait until the boat could get back to the beach, so he grabs his clothes and goes in the fastest way he can.

But could it be just as likely that the opposite is the case: that instead of going to Jesus that he is fleeing from Jesus!

Remember that this is the same Peter who only days earlier had denied Jesus three times and deserted Jesus in the hour of trial.

Will Jesus be angry with him?

Will Jesus be vindictive, and get even with Peter?

Maybe the best thing is to grab his clothes and get away from Jesus while he can.

But curiosity must have gotten the best of him.

He does not get far away from Jesus, and the Lord addresses him: “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep.”

The very patient Lord Jesus is willing to transform even this rascal Peter, the impetuous one, the one who had denied, the one who ran away...into the leader of apostles.

When we are wandering around and looking for proofs of the resurrection, one of the best expositions we could make is to see what happened with those who were first privileged to see the risen Lord.

There is no earthly way to explain their transformation from the fearful ones who have been hiding behind locked doors and who have gone back to old occupations...into the bold disciples who go here, there, and everywhere proclaiming Jesus, unless what they say about Jesus and his resurrection is true.

It certainly would not have happened by itself; the change is too dramatic and profound.

That was a long time ago; what about now?

Are such transformations needed in us?

Yes, and not just once.

The change begins to happen at Holy Baptism, but there is a part of it that needs to continue to happen day after day.

There are ever fresh and twisted ways of hating, of self-centeredness, of telling bad news to one another.

Riots in St. Louis, ill will in Montoursville, hatred and murder in Brussels are graphic examples of what is happening in and around us all the time.

How can evil be restrained without drawing us into the same downward spiral of hate that seeks to destroy us?

That is a very hard question to answer.

The petitions from Prayer of the Day for the First and Second Sundays in Advent come to mind: Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your power from the threatening dangers of our sins.... By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world....

Those are not easy petitions; they will involve real change in us as well as in persons and circumstances around us.

Only God's Holy Spirit can make that happen.

The prayer attributed to St. Francis says it memorably: Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, sow in us love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is despair, hope....

In a word, transform us, Lord, as nations, communities, congregations, and individuals.

Here are some questions on which we can work together:

--What in our lives most needs transforming right now?

--How will our lives be different today because we realize that Jesus intends to transform us?

--How can we be speakers for God this week so that transformation can happen in others?

The third stanza of our next hymn expresses this desired transformation in a prayer:

Grant grace sufficient for life's day

That by our lives we truly say:

Christ has triumphed! He is living! Alleluia!

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.