2 Kings 2:1-12,  2 Corinthians 4:3-6,  Mark 9:2-9,  Psalm 50:1-6

Our lessons this morning express for us a specific and an awesome sense of the presence of God.  In 2 Kings, we read of the mantle being passed from the great prophet Elijah to Elisha, his faithful companion and successor.  Elijah is the only prophet about whom we read being carried up into heaven in a whirlwind.

What an amazing story:  The two are going along together passing through a number of well-known towns of their day.  Elijah encourages Elisha to remain behind in each of the cities they visit, but Elisha is a dedicated student of Elijah, and he refuses to give up the journey even though the future is uncertain.  Then, after a miraculous crossing of the Jordan River reminiscent of the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites, Elijah and Elisha are separated suddenly by fiery chariots and horses of fire.  The fire is so fierce and the activity so horrendous that Elisha is unable to see what is happening to Elijah.  Even in his fear and distress, Elisha remains steadfast until he is certain that Elijah has indeed been drawn into heaven.  Elisha, then, tears his clothes in anguish at the realization of being left alone without the guidance of his mentor.  Yet, at the same time, Elisha is awed by the power of God’s presence – a presence that affirms Elisha’s status as the receiver of the mantle from Elijah.

God’s spirit among his people is continued as before as the mantle is successfully transitioned from Elijah to Elisha.

Similarly, Peter, James, and John who accompany Jesus to the mountaintop in Mark’s Gospel experience anguish and awe in the miraculous unfolding of the Transfiguration.  They are terrified and confused by their experience as Jesus is transfigured – his clothes becoming dazzling white as he is joined by Moses and Elijah – the embodiment of God’s Law and Prophecy.

Then, the voice of God comes from the overshadowing cloud, and Peter, James, and John are terrified just as Elisha had been terrified by the unquestionable presence of God.  Peter, James, and John stand in awe at the confirmation of Jesus as the Son of God.

In his article “The Awesome and Our Awe,” Fr. Jeffrey Mackey states, “The worshiper who recognizes that it is awe which apprehends God is lifted to an indescribable level.”[1]  Apprehend is an interesting verb choice; to apprehend in a law enforcement sense is to arrest, to take in for questioning, to capture.  Yes, God wants the awe of our worship to capture him so that we are lifted to an indescribable level.  Fr. Mackey follows with the quote from Rabbi Abraham Heschel, “[Awe] enables us to perceive in the world intimations of the divine, …to sense the ultimate in the common and the simple; to feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal.”

What is awe and how does it “happen?”

Every day does not bring mountaintop experiences.  Every Sunday is not the Sunday of the Transfiguration.  We don’t often experience chariots of fire and fiery horsemen.  But, that does not mean we do not feel the awe of God’s presence.

On our Advent FaceBook page, I have posted an article by Kazimierz Bem, a UCC minister.  The article affirms the reality that Christianity cannot survive without worship; and worship, I would add cannot survive without inspiring awe in the presence of God.

Bem laments the current assessment that worship must be “tailored for terribly busy people, giving them a brief moment of worship ‘on the run’ (with the stress on brief).”  And, Bem adds, he constantly hears the refrain, “’the Church of the future is the church of service’ (as opposed to a Church known for its worship.  In other words), “Don’t focus on worship – do stuff instead!”[2]  Bem asserts that following this train of thought is allowing culture to get the best of us, misdirecting us to believe that our faith can survive being spiritual without being religious.  History confirms that entire civilizations of Christians have vanished because they were denied the freedom and/or the specific administrative support that worship requires.

Now, certainly, Bem is not suggesting that active service through mission and ministry is not important.  But, he is emphasizing that the Church must be much more than service; our service must be grounded in our worship.  We are made holy by the blood of Jesus Christ, not by our actions; our worship is an expression of our praise and thanksgiving for this one holy and perfect sacrifice.  There is nothing we do that is equitable to that one perfect sacrifice.  And, all that we do is in recognition and gratitude for that sacrifice.

So, we come to worship.  Unlike to world, our worship is orderly and reverent and steeped in meaningfulness.  Our worship systematically and very intentionally includes words of praise to God, vital lessons from the Holy Scriptures, Confession of our sins against God and our neighbor, followed by the absolution of our sins; then, the exchange of the Peace of Christ; all in preparation for the Holy Communion that we share as one Body at peace.  Our worship progresses from the time we enter, building toward the most holy sacrament of the altar.  Everything we do and the sequence in which we do it has meaning; everything is ordered in reverence for the purpose of drawing us into the presence of God, to sense the ultimate in the common and the simple; to feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal; capturing awe in the presence of God.

Kazimierz Bem concludes his article with his response to those who tell him they don’t get anything from worship. 

I am happy to answer, (says Bem), “That’s great!  Because its not about you.”  Our culture needs a place – we need a place in our lives – to tell us that not everything is always about us, about our personal happiness, our convenience, our frantic timetables, or shrinking commitments.  Some things are bigger than us.  There needs to be a place where we are told uncomfortable truths about ourselves, our world and even about God… (a place) Where we pause and reflect theologically.[3]

 Worship is essential.  Being present for our shared worship is essential.  Christianity will not survive without it.  Worship will not always include chariots of fire or glowing images of prophets.  But, God will always be present, and we seek to capture that presence. 

Worship is not about us; worship is about our praise and thanksgiving to God.  Worship is about awe in the presence of God, feeling in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal.