Rev. George
Miller
Feb 14, 2021
Luke 9:28-36
Shhh….the kids are asleep.
Isn’t that one of the most
wonderful sentences in the English language?
Isn’t that one of the most beautiful
sounds in the world?
Right up there with the
sound of snowfall and coffee percolating in the morning.
The gentle, calming sounds
of children breathing in, breathing out, gentle snores.
Still. Soothing.
Like after a long day at the
beach as they sleep in the back of the car.
The sound of Christmas
morning while Mr. and Mrs. Clause put the finishing touches on gifts under the tree
and stockings hung up with care.
Shhh….the kids are asleep.
Don’t disturb them. Let them get their rest a little while longer…
Over the past few months, we’ve
discussed the Hebrew word for mercy, which translates to “womb love.”
Womb love- an expression
that’s maternal, parental, applying to anyone with a child in their life, that
when they look upon them, it’s love.
A love that comes not just from
the heart but from deep within, a connection that transcends space, time, highs,
and valleys.
Womb Love is one way our
ancestors described God’s love for us.
An eternal love that comes
from birthing, creating.
The willingness to give
everything you got for your children, even if it means your own life.
When a child sleeps in your
presence it can mean many things.
Their body is growing so
they need their rest.
They’re sad, so they’re
sleeping as a means of escape.
Or it can mean that within
your presence they feel safe.
For anyone who’s been with abused
or traumatized children, you know that the biggest compliment they can give you
is to fall asleep while in your presence.
For children who always have
to be on, always alert, always have one eye open and one foot on the floor,
ready to go, if they can fall asleep in your presence-you have earned their
trust.
Trust is so beautiful.
Shhh….the kids are asleep.
In today’s scripture those
kids are the very adult Peter, James, and John.
They are the children of God
who are just 5 chapters into the Jesus experience.
Already they have seen a
-sermon from the shore
-a widow’s son raised.
They’ve witnessed
-a storm calmed at sea
-thousands upon thousands fed.
They’ve been here; they’ve been
there.
Been to banquets and beachside
resorts.
Encounters with evil; toe to
toe in theological discussions.
Walked through fields ripe
with life.
How invigorating. How exciting.
How exhausting!
If a day at Disney can
render the most rambunctious child kaput, image what a few days with Jesus will
do.
So Peter, James and John go
up a mountain with Jesus, and as he prays, they fall asleep.
Their eyes flutter, their
breathing slows, their bodies weighed down like a blanket.
In historic times like
today, that sounds so nice.
To nap.
To rest.
To sleep perchance to dream.
Shhh….the kids are asleep.
Friends, after far too many
months away, we are ready to welcome you back into this sanctuary of rest and
worship.
Back to this place that God
created, and you have maintained.
We have missed you. We sense you miss us too.
We miss being all together in
the presence of the Holy; miss being in this sacred time and space.
Yes- we know that God is
everywhere and every time.
But we also know there’s
something about being here, being now.
We can’t wait to welcome you
back.
When you return, we hope you
feel safe. We hope you feel comfortable.
We hope that you feel calm, you
feel security, you can let go and to let God.
We cannot wait to share the
glory of Jesus with you face to face.
We can’t wait to share the
teaching and the preaching of the prophets like Moses and Elijah.
We can’t wait for you to
find rest for the journey and recharge of your soul.
We can’t wait for all to
share Jesus Christ, alpha and omega, once again.
Shhh….the kids are asleep.
But God is not.
Amen and amen.
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