Heaven Broke Loose

A Reflection on the Gospel for March 17th, 2019:
Second Sunday of Lent

Luke 9.28-36

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to Jesus. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his exodus, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” but Peter did not know what he said.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

And the disciples kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

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There are moments when the barrier between here and heaven effaces and thins and the weight of heaven falls through the dividing membrane into the mundane.

In a moment in the River Jordan, Jesus rose up to the surface and prayed, and all Heaven broke loose.

The Son breathed the air.
The Spirit came to rest.
The Father spoke a blessing.

In that first time, before He started anything, He was Beloved.
Now, as He is coming into His purpose, His Kingdom, He is Chosen.

The dripping of heaven into earth at His baptism was surrounded by surrenders. John to the desert. Jesus to the river. The Creator to His cousin. All merely a mirror, a reflection of the surrender to come: where the King enters His Kingdom through the cross.  And even a conversation concerning what’s coming reveals the glory hiding in plain sight. It starts as a discussion between a Father and Son, Jesus praying, and spreads to a circle of conversation with Moses and Elijah. And as the weight of all the Law and the Prophets gather to speak with the King about what Love is about to accomplish on the cross, Heaven can’t help but colour an overlay of itself on their faces. And the fishermen are caught up in it all. Overwhelming, overshadowing Glory, like a cloud covering them. They breathe it in, living for the moment on a line where beauty and terror overlap. And then the Voice. A moment on the mountain.

The men shook at the splendour
The Son shone in surrender
The Father spoke of selection

He chose Him. He chose Him for this. He chose His Son. For the fishermen. For me. For you. So that we could breathe it in — His glory, His beauty, His perfection, His presence — and live. All the fishermen need to do, all I need to do, all you need to do, is choose Him too. Choose to listen to Jesus. He is calling us. He is calling every person we bump into every day in our lives. He is calling us all to come close. He is waiting to be with us as we become part of how heaven colours an overlay of itself here and now. Listen. In the grocery store line-up. Listen. In a conversation filled with conflict. Listen. In a coffee shop between friends. Listen. In caring for a child or a parent. Listen. When cleaning up someone else’s mess. Listen. All these moments He offers you and me a chance to surrender, and have His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

"All the fishermen need to do, all I need to do, all you need to do, is choose Him too. Choose to listen to Jesus. He is calling us."

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Peter, James and John didn’t speak the moment they came off the mountain, but there came a moment when they did. And because they widened the circle of the conversation of what Love accomplished on the cross, I got to hear Jesus. I got a chance to listen, and took it. Father, help me to join in this widening wonder.

​Noreen Smith

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