Transfiguration. "E.E.E." (2017-08-06)

SUNDAY 6 August 2017, Transfiguration

 • Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 • Psalm 97 • 2 Peter 1:16-19 •  + Matthew 17:1-9 •

Title:  “Eavesdropping. Entertaining. Emulating.”

[__00 - lexicon__]   

►  “eavesdrop” = listen secretly to what is said in private.◄ alt: “drop in” ”crash a party”

►  “entertain” = keep, hold, maintain in the mind. ◄ alt: “consider”

►  “emulate” = imitate, follow as a pattern, model, example. ◄ alt: “focus”

[__01__]   What we read in the Gospel this Sunday is the parable of the Transfiguration.

          Jesus has climbed the mountain with his disciples. In this Gospel, Jesus is also teaching us about listening, listening to him.

          Listening is a skill, a technique. “Hearing” on the other hand is a physical, bodily sense, the ability to perceive sounds.

          We might lament, at times, our ability to hear, or the changes that come with age or illness to our hearing.

          However, the ability to listen can, actually, be amped up (“improved”) with experience, with practice and with age. It’s good news for listeners.

[* * * pause * * *]

[__02__]     I’d like to reflect on the journey we walk on the way to become LISTENERS. The disciples also walk this walk.

 [__03__]      Sometimes, what we hear is not real. Or not what we think we hear.

          Rob Mueller, percussionist drummer example and the A-440 tuner.    I once had a neighbor and  friend who was afraid of having his car stolen. Rather than buying an expensive car alarm or renting a garage, he just put a loud beeping device – it also had a bright red light – in his car. And, he just left the beeper turned on permanently.

          So, for the cost of the one 9-volt battery which was cheap, he had what he thought was a anti-theft device. But, it was not an anti-theft device. It was a musical tuning device that produced a certain frequency . So, he turned it to 440 megahertz “A”  -- “A 440” . I believe that his car was not stolen. In this case, he fooled a few listeners.

[__04__]     Our Savior and the Son of God, however, is not trying to deceive us with his words or actions. He is just asking us to listen and not only to listen but also to imitiate or to EMULATE and follow him.

          And, the disciples on the mountain are also called to listen and emulate our Savior.

          However, in the early stages, they are not quite emulating him but rather ..

[►  1^st  EAVESDROPPING]

[►  2^nd ENTERTAINING]

..then, finally…

[►  3^rd EMULATING]

 [__05__]    [►  1^st  EAVESDROPPING]

Eavesdropping means that we “listen secretly to what is said in private” … or that we hang around trying to hear what someone else is saying.

          Of course, “eavesdropping” might take on an entirely different perspective – or paranoia. That is, my phone could be wiretapped, the FBI could be eavesdropping on my conversation. Or, spies eavesdrop on each other. 

          Then again, “eavesdropping” takes place in less threatening circumstances also.

          A mother – or father – eavesdrops on his or her children to hear what they are saying.

          Children might eavesdrop on their parents.

          In either case, the listener is not fully engaged.

          Peter, James, and John are eavesdropping on the encounter of Jesus with Moses and Elijah.

          They heard something about Jesus suffering, dying, rising from the dead and being glorified. They heard it. Were they really listening?

          The Transfiguration reminds them that this is really going to happen. Thus, the Transfiguration anticipates Jesus’ resurrection.

          Sometimes, we are only eavesdropping in our prayer. But, this is also a start for us.

          For we come to church to Sunday Mass not only with our own prayers but also to hear the prayers of the whole community – the prayers of the faithful – to be reminded of the needs of others.

          Being in the presence of others who are praying helps our listening skills, helps us on our journey.

[__06__]   After eavesdropping, the disciples do some “entertaining”, some considering I their own mind of a notion, of a project.

          They are entertaining the notion and project of the 3 tents, 3 monuments on the mountain.

          Hey, Jesus, this is cool, it will be just like Mount Rushmore or the Lincoln Memorial. We need to remember this.

          But, Jesus is saying they are off the mark, off target.

          Sometimes, you and I are off the mark, off target. We are entertaining notions of what we must do materially or visibly or financially in order to show our love of God and neighbor.

          You know the old saying: “if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”

          This does not mean that we should never plan, but only that we are called to be open to God’s will and God’s ideas in our plans.

[__07__]     Finally, after  [►  1^st  EAVESDROPPING] and

[►  2^nd ENTERTAINING]     ..they are …   [►  3^rd EMULATING],

imitating, following Christ by focusing on him, paying attention, listening.

          Sometimes, we walk away from a conversation and, later, we realize what the person really said. Sometimes, we walk away from a conversation and we realize what we really said.

          Listening to others more closely is a skill.  You and I are called to engage, not just eavesdrop. We are also called to listen to our own voices, not just entertain ourselves.

          And, finally, to listen to our Savior so that we might follow him and emulate him, imitating his ways.  [__fin__]