One day an old man was slowly walking along a country lane with his dog and his mule. Suddenly a speeding pick-up truck careened around the corner, knocking the man, his mule, and his dog into a ditch. They were all badly injured. The old man decided to sue the driver of the truck for the cost of the damages.
While the old man was on the stand, the lawyer for the defense cross-examined him by asking a simple question: "I want you to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the following question: Did you or did you not say at the time of the accident that you were 'perfectly fine'"? And the man replied, "Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road … "
And the counsel for defense said, "Stop, stop, I asked you, tell me 'yes' or 'no.' Did you say you were 'perfectly fine' at the time of the accident? " "Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road and … "
The defense attorney appealed to the judge. "Your honor," he said, "the man is not answering the question. Would you please insist that he answer the question?" The judge said, "Well, he obviously wants to tell us something. Let him speak. Let’s listen to what he has to say."
So the old man said, "Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road, and this truck came around the corner far too fast. It knocked us into the ditch. The driver stopped, got out of his truck, saw my dog was badly injured, went back to his truck, got his rifle, and he shot it. Then he saw that my mule had broken his leg so he shot it. Then he said, 'How are you?' And I said, 'I'm perfectly fine.'"
The point of the story is that in order to understand someone we need to listen carefully to what that person has to say. And that’s the point of today’s Gospel describing Jesus on the mountaintop where he took Peter, John, and James to pray. What did God say to them? Did they listen? More importantly, what is God saying to us? Are we listening carefully?
Let’s go to that mountaintop. According to Luke, while Jesus was praying his face changed in appearance, and his clothing became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared, and they spoke to Jesus about his exodus to Jerusalem.
This richly symbolic story is about Jesus being compared to Moses and Elijah. Moses went to the mountaintop of Sinai where he heard God speak. Elijah, considered to be the greatest of all prophets, went to Mt. Horeb where he heard God speak. Jesus was considered to be the new Moses – the new law-giver, and the new Elijah – the greater prophet. To the Gospel writer, Jesus speaks with an authority greater than Moses or Elijah.
Then we hear the voice of God saying from the clouds, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” So, we know what God said, “Listen to Jesus.” And we should, and we do. But what did Jesus actually say on the mountaintop? The Gospel doesn’t tell us.
Nevertheless, although not in today’s reading, after this Transfiguration scene we learn that Jesus came down the mountain, and on the next day he placed a child by his side. Then said to his disciples, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest.”
Let’s listen very carefully to what Jesus had to say – “the one who is least among all of us is the one who is greatest.” Who are these people – the least of us? They are the poor, the disenfranchised, the forgotten, the oppressed, the outcasts, the hurt and beaten, the abused, the victims – the suffering. These are the people around us and near to us – as well as far away.
He says a lot in his new book: “The Name of God is Mercy” in which he says mercy is God’s identity card. Right in keeping with this theme, Pope Francis during his trip to Mexico this past week brought a message of tough love to government authorities. He said:
“Experience teaches us that each time we seek the path of privileges or benefits for a few to the detriment of the good of all, sooner or later the life of society becomes a fertile soil for corruption, drug trade, exclusion of different cultures, violence, and also human trafficking, kidnapping and death, bringing suffering and slowing down development.”
According to one account, he then challenged Mexican bishops known for their close ties to Mexico’s wealthy and powerful. He challenged them to courageously denounce the threat posed by the drug trade and for bishops not to hide behind their own privilege and careers. He asked them to help Mexicans “finally escape the raging waters that drown so many, either victims of the drug trade or those who stand before God with their hands drenched in blood, with their pockets filled with sordid money and their consciences deadened.”
Now that’s a holy and brave man dressed in dazzling white clothing and giving us a universal message. He stands on his own mountaintop where he surely listens to God. The question becomes: are we standing beside Francis? Are we carefully listening to what God and he have to say?
Deacon David Pierce
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