Sunday, March 8, 2020    
Second Sunday of Lent

It was a beautiful sight to be on the Mount of the Transfiguration this past October.   I can understand why the disciples wanted to stay there…..away from the crowds.  with one another. With Jesus and Moses and Elijah. 
It was just such a beautiful sight.

And then to hear the Father confirm what the disciples had been cautiously  believing and hoping for 

This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.   Listen to him

I don’t know what Peter, James, and John expected to hear when they listened.  Maybe an affirmation of their faithfulness in following Jesus…especially in light of the fact that Jesus had personally chosen them from all the others to be with him at this sacred moment.  I don’t know what they hoped to hear.  

But I don’t think it was this:
Rise and do not be afraid
The Father knew what was in their heart  
•    To build tents and rest for awhile.  
•    To stay and bask in the glory of the moment.  
•    To savor the specialness of their relationship with one another. 
•    To count themselves among the great prophets of the past – the Moses and Elijahs  
. 

The Father knows what is in my and our hearts 
•    To build tents and rest for awhile.  
•    To stay and bask in the glory of the moment.  
•    To savor the specialness of our relationship with one another. 
•    To count ourselves among the great prophets of the past – the Moses and Elijahs and the Benedicta Riepps and Anne Burns and Paul McCarthys. 

Like those gathered on that beautiful mountain, I don’t want to be challenged into action.   RISE. MOVE IT. 

Like those gathered on that beautiful mountain, I don’t want to have God name my reason for not moving: DO NOT BE AFRAID

Those on the mountain; those gathered here; those who have sought to live the Benedictine life down through these centuries, we’re so often afraid -  but God doesn’t want us to remain there. 

Always we can hope that someone else has the answer
That some other time was better or maybe
Some other time it will all turn out. 

But this is it.  We are it.  All we have.  
Today is the time to Listen. To rise. And to not be afraid:
Change happens whether we’re ready or not
•    Changing the clocks last night will not impact how we use our time
•    Prioress election will not implement our goal statements
•    County commission election will not change our hearts towards refugees
•    Presidential election will not change our embattled conversations

This is it. All we have.  
    Listen.  
        Rise.  
            Do not be afraid.  

The Zen masters tell us that once upon a time in the rainiest part of the rainy season, an old monastic began her pilgrimage to the holiest shrine on the holiest mountain in the land.  Forced back by fierce winds and driving rain, she stopped at the foot of the incline to check directions one last time.  “Old woman” the inn keeper scoffed. “This mountain is deep in wet and running clay. You cannot possibly climb this mountain now.”  “Oh sir,” the old monastic said, “the climb to this shrine will be no problem at all. You see, my heart has been there all my life. Now it is simply a matter of taking my body there as well.”