Last Sunday after Epiphany: Glory on Mt St Anthony

Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 99
2 Peter 4:1-5
Matthew 1:16-21

The significance of mountains in the Holy Scriptures, and in the Judeao-Christian tradition generally, is rich and fascinating. I have mentioned it before, but in every case where a mountain appears in the Scriptures we know that we should pay close attention; something important – perhaps even monumental – is going to happen. It is on mountains that God commissions people like Moses to carry out a specific mission; on mountains are delivered God’s purposes and wisdom like the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount; it is on mountains where the true nature of things are revealed. All this notwithstanding, when last month the members of the Vestry approached the mount on which is built St Anthony’s Retreat House, I am not sure this was uppermost in their minds. Many arrived after a long week of work, and others arrived not knowing quite what to expect, never having been on retreat before. Few, I think, expected any sort of revelation. But revelation is a subtle thing, and its occurrence can sometimes go ignored; or perhaps even worse, its significance misunderstood.

Over the last three weeks I have been reflecting on our vestry retreat, and sharing with you some of what we shared, some of what we discussed. We talked about leadership and money; about ways forward, both figuratively and practically. However, much of what went on during the bulk of our time together was facilitated by what went on the first night spent on – if you will pardon my imagination – Mount St Anthony’s. On that first evening Fr Larry gathered us round and, after we introduced ourselves, invited us to share our answers to three questions. Each question was asked separately, and answered in turn. In the first instance, we were all asked what sort of heating was used in the house where we were raised. We had a variety of responses, many of them revealing not just the simple answer but also something quite meaningful about the circumstances of our upbringing. Answers ranged from central heating in every room, to a wood-burning furnace in one. The second question hit closer to home: “Who was the centre of warmth for you or your family when you were a child?” Again a variety of responses were shared, and we were all graced by each others’ memories, some joyous and some very painful indeed. Lastly Fr Larry asked, “When in your life did you come to the realisation of God as something other than merely a name?” The invitation was, of course, to share something of our faith journey. To say the least, I found the experience humbling as the people responded, vulnerably revealing something quite personal about their faith journey – again, some joyful, some quite difficult and sad, but all glorious. There was something of – dare I say it? – transfiguration that evening as we each saw our fellows in a different light, as we experienced each other on a level deeper than we do in our regular day to day encounters. What Fr Larry enabled that evening was not only space in which people could reveal something of themselves, but a space in which their revelation could be attended. He enabled a space in which each of us could really listen, and by so doing come to a deeper understanding of one another.

As we come to the end of Epiphanytide and look towards Lent, the Gospel invites us into the mystery of transfiguration through Christ’s own Transfiguration in the presence of his favoured disciples. There on Mt Tabor is revealed Jesus’ true nature. Flanked by Moses the law-giver and Isaiah the prophet, he is revealed as an inheritor of both the legal and prophetic traditions of Israel; while a voice from the clouds reveals him as “…my Son, the Beloved, with whom I well pleased.” (Matthew 17:5) The disciples appear hardly to pay attention, and like so many of us uncomfortable with revelation, they become fearful and frantic about doing something: “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4) If it is indeed “so good…to be here”, why cannot they remain in the moment, in the “here”? Their behaviour will be no different at Jesus arrest and crucifixion, when also, on other mounts, something truly significant is revealed about who Jesus is and what he is about. Again, heedless of the tradition and what was right in front them, they scramble in a fear manifested by nervous, useless, even destructive activity. Remember how when Jesus is arrested on the Mount of Olives one of his disciples cuts off the ear of the priest’s servant? No, in the presence of revelation we must stand and listen, or we may well miss the true nature of the glory that is being revealed or mistake it for something else altogether.

There was a lot to do on our vestry retreat, a lot to discuss, a lot to think about, a lot to bring home and strategise about; but we spent the first night on “Mt St Anthony” listening, attentive to revelation, and each revealed something of their glory as children of God, both the joy and the pain. And, like I said, we saw each other, I believe, in a different light, and while many people felt some difference, I think few of us could actually put our finger on it, because revelation – genuine revelation – is a very subtle thing indeed. And while we could not exactly articulate why, I think we would have concurred with at least a part of St Peter’s words: “Lord, it is good for us to be here” (Matthew 17:5) You see, the meaning of any glory revealed only comes into focus and deepens with time and reflection, and it is only as we moved through the next day that we became more consciously aware of what we experienced that first night. We knew each other beyond our duties at church or as members of the vestry, beyond our relationships and responsibilities, we knew each other beyond the accidents of our existences. Through the glory that was revealed, we went from a committee to a community, and I think that will make all the difference in the year to come.

I know that many of you who were not on the retreat have already heard about that first evening, and I also know that some people have already begun to think of ways in which we might be able to incorporate elements of it parish-wide. It’s a good idea. It is not mine to implement, but a very good idea and one I would wholeheartedly support. As we look towards all we wish to accomplish in the coming year, all we intend to do, it might be a very good idea indeed if we created some mountains in our midst, some places of revelation in order to manifest to one another the glory that is within each of us, our own glory as daughters and sons of God; and believe me – or if not, believe your vestry members – it will make all the difference. Amen.