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Sunday Sermons
Sermon: 2-3-08, Epiphany 3
Pastor Phil Lee
Title: "Listen up!"
Text: Mt.17:1-9
Theme: listening to Jesus
Introduction
Last Monday (1-28-08), President George Bush gave his last State of the Union address. Did you listen? And, if you listened, can you remember what he said? (economic stimulus package; war on terrorism; respect and support for military; use his veto power if necessary; etc.)
For the moment, I’m not interested in politics, but instead, I’m wondering if you really listened to the President. And, beyond that, I’m wondering if your conversation habit is to listen so that you really hear and understand the other person you’re talking to. To put it more bluntly, is it your habit to talk with people, or to talk at people? And is it your habit to listen, or to let the noise go in one ear and out the other?
Point
Today’s Gospel – Mt.17 – is one of those “Listen up!” stories. On the mountain of Transfiguration, that strange and mysterious alteration of appearance that Jesus experienced, God spoke: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”
But, the disciples fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. So Jesus came and said: “Get up and do not be afraid…Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Apparently they listened to Jesus, because they obeyed Jesus.
How can we listen to Jesus today? How can you and I really listen to the One we confess to be our Savior and Lord? Well, the truth is we probably never will listen to Jesus beyond a passive reading of the scriptures in church until we’ve answered the question of why we should listen to Jesus. We care when we believe something will personally affect us. We don’t care when we feel disconnected. If we’re convinced that listening to Jesus will affect our lives, then we will listen. If not, we won’t.
“Listen up!” – it’s a way of getting someone’s attention because they need to hear something important. “Listen up!” – those are words you might hear from a coach, a teacher, a Marine DI, or a parent. Today’s Gospel – Mt.17 – is one of those “Listen up!” stories. On the mount of Transfiguration God spoke: “This is my Son… listen to him.”
Problem
But, it’s difficult to really listen, because most of us would rather be heard. We want people to hear about our thoughts, ideas, opinions, and sometimes, feelings. But, too often, we’re not much interested in really listening to others because it takes work, and a commitment to receive what someone else has to say, even when we don’t agree with them. We must listen in order to understand.
But, there’s a big difference between passive and active listening. Passive listens conveys that we don’t care (like listening to those seat belt instructions from the flight attendant right before takeoff). Active listening means that we do care (like listening to those seat belt instructions from the flight attendant when the plane needs to make an emergency landing). We care when we believe something will personally affect us. We don’t care when we feel disconnected.
Maybe you remember some of these important historical examples of active/passive listening:
Philosopher George Santayana once said: “If we cannot remember history we are condemned to repeat it.” (one of my favorite quotes) But, too often, we don’t listen.
In 1941 there were warnings of a Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor. But, the top military and political brass ignored the warnings. They didn’t listen.
Your mom used to tell you: “Eat your vegetables!” But, did you listen?
On May 10, 1940, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. When he met his Cabinet on May 13 he told them: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” They listened, and his country listened, and the rest, as they say, is history.
President Lincoln, in a dark time of crisis in America, reminded the country that we are and will remain a nation that is governed “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” And every time we go to the voting booth, we are actively listening to Lincoln’s prophetic voice.
If we really believe that we will be personally affected in some way, we will probably listen, and take heed. If we don’t believe that, we will probably nod as though we’ve heard, but then carry on as before, with little or no regard for what has been said.
Power
Jesus said a lot of things that are recorded in the Gospels for us to hear – promises, warnings, words of comfort, commands, words of love and grace. If you believe them, then listen up!
If we’re ready for comfort and grace and love and forgiveness and mercy, if we’re willing, and we really want to listen to Jesus, we can. Luther said that the Bible is the cradle of Christ. If we want to see, know, hear, and understand Jesus, we must go to the Word. If we want to have a personal relationship with the one Lord and Savior, we must visit the cradle, we must read the Word, meditate on the Word, question the Word (What is this saying to me?), and obey the Word.
So, let’s visit the cradle of Christ as we go to God’s Word for a few moments, and let’s listen to Jesus:
Jesus said: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted…Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled…Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy…Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Mt.5) Meditate on that, and you will understand that Jesus is speaking directly to you.
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” Jesus said, “but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Mt.6) Question what Jesus is saying, and ask yourself: How am I doing in the area of forgiveness?
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live… (Jn.10, 11) Can you hear that Jesus speaking to you?
Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Jn.14) Are you listening?
Jesus said: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Mt.28) Are you willing to obey Jesus?
Leo the Great, a 5th century bishop of Rome, in reflecting on the Transfiguration of Jesus, wrote: “[God] is manifested through [Jesus’] preaching…glorified through his humility. So listen to him without hesitation. He is the truth and the life. He is [God’s] strength and wisdom…’Listen to him’ who by his blood redeemed the world, who binds the devil…who breaks the debt of sin and the bondage of iniquity. ‘Listen to him’ who opens the way to heaven and by the pain of the cross prepares for you the steps of ascent into his kingdom.” (ACCS, Vol. Ib, p.56)
Conclusion
If you want to see, know, hear, and understand Jesus, then go to God’s Word. If you want to have a personal relationship with the one Lord and Savior of the world, then visit the cradle as you read God’s Word. Meditate on the Word. Question the Word (What is this saying to me?). And obey the Word.
Then you will hear, and you will receive God’s amazing gifts of comfort and grace and love and forgiveness and hope.
So, listen up! Amen.
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