Change Is Good!?

The opening music for THE MUSIC MAN finds a bunch of traveling salesmen riding a train car in 1906. They were comparing notes about their business, which was perceived to be declining. They blamed the cracker-barrel becoming obsolete, and the Model-T: “you can say what you wanna, but it’s different than it was.” “No, it aint! No it aint, but you gotta know the territory!” Readings for Transfiguration tell stories of change, and are appropriate for pandemic-saturated hearers who by now are convinced that “it’s different than it was”.

In II Kings 2:1-12 we can read about Elijah’s ascent into Heaven in a fiery chariot, right in front of his mentee, Elisha. Who was transfigured here? Many will say that this is about ELISHA more than his mentor: we’re given this story so that we might remember our own experiences with the Holy and the resultant change. Transfiguration implies growth, a maturing of thought about who we are. We note that Elijah & Elisha visit the sacred places, but do not stop there; the ultimate theophany is met in the unnamed space beyond the Jordan. In this unlikely spot, Elisha is now equipped to take up the mantle and resume speaking for God.

In II Corinthians 4:3-6, Paul equates being changed with seeing the light. He says that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ…” There are many distraction, both outside and inside the Church, which keep us too busy to worship or serve in any meaningful way. My bookshelf-lined study is most comfortably protecting me from the snow coming by my window. Paul keeps urging us Corinthians to allow the Creator of Light to shine clearly from our hearts…

Mark’s Gospel (9:2-9) is the familiar story of Jesus taking Peter, James & John up the mountain, where he was changed before them into a brilliant light, along with Elijah & Moses, the Law & the Prophets. Traditionally we think of this excursion as a way for Jesus to be strengthened for the coming conflict and crucifixion. But don’t forget to include the Fisher-Folk in the story, because it was also done for their benefit. Evidently the world and the people therein are capable of Change, and DO change when so encouraged! The voice from the cloud was specifically for the Disciples and the Church which they fathered.

I’ve gotta admit that I’m a charter member of the Flat Earth Society. I’m distressed by change, and prefer that everything would stay the same. Sometimes I chase History to see The Old Way, and am usually disappointed to see the incursions of modernity. But as the salesmen affirmed, “it’s different than it was!” The computer upon which I write this is an improvement from the word-processor, the typewriter and the pencil. My car has turn-signals and a good defroster; in the future I expect to be driving an electric vehicle. Who knew that we’d be carrying our own phones in our pocket? (Sure beats cranking) Wherever we’re going in this crazy time, there’ll be Change. Pray for me, and I’ll pray for you, that we may welcome this Change and grow!

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come join me in being changed by Scripture for the upcoming weekend, every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook or at horacebrownking.com