Last summer, as part of a several-day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, I wanted to hike to Sky Pond. Partly because it was said to be a challenging hike with a beautiful destination, and partly because Sky Pond—far enough away from most folks—was reputed to have good fishing. Well the trail was challenging, and I remember telling another hiker on the way up that I was glad I had spent a lot of time on a stair-climber at the gym. And, then I got to the “scramble”. I looked at the rock wall that stood between me and Sky Pond. I sat down and ate an energy bar, contemplating the climb and the potential for fish. I decided that I could fish elsewhere (i.e., back down at The Loch) and not put myself at risk by climbing that rock face.
As I started back down the mountain, I remembered another challenging climb. Every year my son’s scout troop set out to summit a 14’er—the Boy Scouts in Colorado have developed a special patch for those who’ve done it. That year is was Mt. Sherman ( according to some, “Colorado’s Easiest Fourteener”). We left base camp pre-dawn and started the climb. Lots of folks (including some scouts) pooped out at various points along the way. I was determined. I made it to the final saddle—a very narrow (and windy!) ridge stood between me and the summit. I pondered, and decided, whether I had made it to 14,000 feet or not, my family would rather I get home safely than have me blown off the side of that ridge. Perhaps I’m a little too cautious for mountain climbing (although I suppose there’s still time to “bag a 14’er”—I could take the cog train to the top of Pike’s Peak!).
Two disappointments . . . results of my own hesitancies, to be sure. But both raised an underlying question: “Why do we climb mountains?” Exercise? The challenge, and sense of accomplishment? Because it’s there? A desire for the view? Hungry fish? Or, do we hope the experience will change us? The reasons, I’m sure, and many and varied.
Mountains! Lots of them to our west. And, on this day our lessons are about mountains as well. And so, I had to return to those old questions, but with greater specificity: “Why did those folks climb mountains? What were they expecting?” Six of the most famous “mountain-climbers” in history: Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Peter, James and John. And, given my own experience, I had to wonder whether any of them were nervous approaching the summit?
Moses . . . a major climber! He goes up and down Mt. Sinai numerous times. The first, of course, is when he’s tending his father-in-law’s flocks, after fleeing his privilege life in Egypt. It is at the mountain he sees the burning bush and desires to know more. If he was fearful, his curiosity overruled his hesitancy. But then, the voice comes from the bush, and “Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God” (Ex 3.6). From that bush on the mountain, God gives Moses his first mission: “Lead the Israelites out of bondage. And, bring them back to the mountain where they will worship God.” From that bush, on that mountain, God reveals the Holy Name: “I am that I am”. Moses hesitates, protests, fearful of the responsibility, “Please, just send someone else!” (Ex 4.13). But the God Who Is prevails. On the mountain, the mission begins.
Moses returns to Egypt and, eventually, gains the Israelites’ release. After escaping the pursuing Egyptian army, they arrive at the base of Mt. Sinai, where, we’re told “the people shook with fear” (Ex 19.16). Yet Moses goes up again, returning with the Ten Commandments. He goes up again for more instruction and laws. Upon his return from that 40-day sojourn, he finds that the people, fearful that he might not return, had set up a golden calf to worship. Furious, Moses breaks the original tablets and cleanses the camp. He returns to the mountain again to intercede on behalf of the people (that may have caused some trepidation!). While there, he asks to see God’s glory. God shields Moses’ eyes, but passes by so that Moses sees only his back. Moses secures a second set of tablets of the covenant and returns to the people with his face aglow, causing fear among those who saw him (Ex 34.30)—the reading we heard this morning. (BTW, the “horns” with which Moses was often depicted comes from a mis-translation regarding his “shining” face.)
Moses climbed the mountain out of a curiosity that was greater than his fear . . . and there he encountered the God Who Is. He ascended the mountain several more times—I would imagine with varying levels of fear—to receive instruction, to intercede, and is given a mission: he was the one specifically chosen by God to free God’s people and give them God’s law. The man who went up the mountain came down a different man.
Elijah was also a climber, although not as frequently as Moses. But twice, on two different mountains, he encountered God. First, after a period of faithfulness to God, the people of Israel strayed into idolatry—following the lead of King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. To settle the question of “Whose god is mightier?”, Elijah met the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel—one against hundreds . . . perhaps a bit fear-inducing. A battle of sacrifices ensued, and Baal’s prophets were embarrassed. Elijah’s sacrifice was accepted, and Baal’s folks were put to the sword (1 Kg 18).
That outcome infuriated Jezebel and Ahab. They threatened Elijah and he fled for another mountain— Mt. Sinai—seeking refuge out of fear. It was then that God appeared to Elijah not face-to-face, not in the hurricane, earthquake or fire, but in a small murmuring sound. God commissions Elijah to return, anoint Elisha as successor, and jointly, with him, to restore Israel to the worship of God. (1 Kg 19) As with Moses, Elijah ascended mountain—fearful, no doubt—encountered the God Who Is, and was given a mission: to ensure good leadership of God’s people. The man who went up the mountain came down a different man.
And, today we are at the Mount of Transfiguration ( usually identified with Mt. Tabor). Luke tells us why Jesus went up the mountain: to pray, ostensibly—Jesus often sought renewal on high places. But did Jesus know what to expect this time? He had told the disciples what being a Messiah really meant: he would die. Was his ascent of the mountain going to confirm that?
Jesus invites Peter, James and John to accompany him. What mi got they have feared, having just been given the news that their leader was soon to die? There they see Jesus’ mountain-climbing predecessors, Moses and Elijah. And something awesome, no doubt fear-inducing, happens. Jesus is transfigured—a “metamorphosis”. The disciples see and hear the three discussing Jesus’ “exodus”. They hear the Voice from the cloud, eerily similar to the Voice Jesus heard at his baptism, with the instruction to them to “listen to him” (Lk 9. 35). As the cloud lifts, Moses and Elijah are no longer to be seen. It is Jesus who is now sole leader of God’s people and the one who gives God’s law. Jesus embodies all who God is, and how God would have us live. The conclusion of Jesus’ mission is before him; the extension of that mission is given to Peter, James and John. The four who went up the mountain descended—all transformed in one way or another.
The various ascents up mountains, including the mount of Transfiguration, serve, it seems to me, as fulcrums. In all of the stories, our mountain-climbers ascend; their relationships with God compelling them to climb—despite fears behind and ahead. They encounter the God Who Is. They descend, changed by the experience, and are given new missions.
We—as individuals and as a congregation—may be their heirs from time to time. We may receive summons—perhaps not always welcome— to ascend various literal and figurative mountains. Some mountains may hold threat, some may hold promise. I imagine we’re often as fearful as Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Peter James and John at the prospects. What might happen? Do we have the strength? Are we brave enough? What might we be asked? Can we see God in the request? Are we willing to be transformed?
Success at Sky Pond or Mt. Sherman probably wouldn’t have transformed me on the spot. But my memories of those experiences return often, and work on me—perhaps a bit like the leaven we heard about last week—changing my attitudes—challenging my fears— about the various “mountains” that will inevitably arise before me. Perhaps—again returning to last week’s reading—the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mountain, which a person went to climb, and discovered . . . . The God Who Is?
Amen