Dunbar United Church of Christ - February 22, 2009

We are on a journey, whether we know it or not. In fact we are on multiple journeys, all occurring at the same time. There is the cosmic journey from the time of the Big Bang. There is the journey of spaceship earth hurtling through space. There is the journey of life on this planet growing in vitality and consciousness. There is the journey of human history towards greater liberation. There is the journey of our country within that struggle for greater freedom. There is the journey of our families and ancestors, crossing oceans for opportunity and a fresh start, passing their life way from one generation to the next. There are the journeys of careers, growing homes, raising children, and launching them into the world. There is the journey you took to get here this morning, and those you take everyday to work, school, and play. All these multiple journeys are connected. God is the master weaver threading them all together. All are part of a great mystery. It is a mystery because we do not know where it is all headed, do we? Well we have a vague idea, something about a Kingdom. It is enough that God knows and if we put our faith in God we will all get there. For us here and now, it is the journeying that matters.

We may get glimpses of Kingdom, what I call those Kingdom moments. It is those glimpses, intimations of the Kingdom that keep us going. Kingdom moments are important for the journeying. Think of that big summer family vacation. What is the first thing we do before you pack and pile into the car, or the first thing you do once we leave home? [Get gas!] Right, we need gas for the journey. We need to fill the tank, tank up. Choosing the right fuel is important. I have a diesel car and need to use diesel. Most of us probably need gas. None of us can use coal. I might be able to get away with heating oil or vegetable oil. We need the right fuel for the journey.

Jesus was on a journey! His journey was the master journey, tying all our journeys to the cosmic journey. Jesus needed fuel. He got it from his father. Where did he tank up? Every now and then he had to escape the crowds find some quiet corner and pray. That was one way to tank up. However for the big journey, the summer vacation, he went to the mountaintop. That is what our story today is about, Jesus going to the mountaintop to “fill ‘er up.” He takes some of his disciples with him, because they need to fill up, too. Jesus’ big journey was to Jerusalem. He was changing plans from a ministry of healing in Galilee to confronting the powers that be in Jerusalem. So they needed a full tank not only to get to Jerusalem, but to overcome the resistance of worldly power, all those road blocks the Pharisees, Herodists, and Sadducees would through in his way. Unfortunately the disciples ran out of gas in the end, abandoning Jesus to his fate, but they would get a refill, soon enough.

Martin Luther King went to the mountain top and had a Kingdom moment that fortified him for his struggles. He preached about the day before he was shot. Knowing what did happen to him, it is chilling to read the last paragraph of his sermon. You think that he must have had a premonition of his terrible fate. I would like to read it to you now. He was in Memphis supporting striking sanitation workers. Here are his words:

Well, I don’t know what will happen. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I am not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And he has allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I have seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. Bu I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight, I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Those are powerful words by a man who had a Kingdom moment and took it with him into the struggle. Peter wanted to build a shrine on the mountaintop and stay up there and worship. But Jesus would have none of that. You have to come down the mountain and do God’s will. We are God’s hands in the world, remember.

We do not always have to go to the mountaintop to fill up. We can fill each other’s tanks. We do that in church each Sunday when we listen to good sermon, pass the peace, watch our children during children’s message, sing a wonderful hymn, and have a chat at coffee hour. We are filling our tank and we do not even know it. Whenever our hearts are touched, that is a kingdom moment. It happened to me last Sunday, when Debbie Laffin came up to me and shook me saying, “Ian we have to get you out of your shell!” I was dumbfounded. I thought I was already out!

Back home after church I got this warm and fuzzy feeling inside, realizing how Debbie’s shake was truly a caring gesture. And a stranger thing happened. I began to reflect on all of your faces, your gestures, hear your voices and saw the love in all of it. What is this fuel we need for our journeying, but love? The Kingdom is here in our midst at Dunbar. We just have to open our eyes and see it! When Jesus took his disciples up the mountaintop and was transfigured. It clearly was a vision. His appearance changed, his clothes became brighter than bright. But I’m sure his disciples felt something too and it was not just amazement. They must have felt the warm and fuzzy feeling of love, perhaps overwhelming and even scary. But it got them to Jerusalem. It got them as far as Jesus’ arrest, trial and execution. Unfortunately they ran out of gas at that point. However, in three days time, they got another tank full when Jesus rose up in all his glory. That friends is a tank that will never go empty!

Ian Skoggard