Delayed Gratifications

Sometimes the Gospel readings of August feel like we are re-living the events of the Exodus. Last week we saw the feeding of the 5,000 in a miracle of prayer and thanksgiving - the first liturgy I called it. Jesus then sent his disciples to cross the waters of Galilee while he stayed behind to pray. Then, as we read today, in the early hours of the morning, he comes to them in the midst of a storm that is holding them back from crossing the waters to the other side. These two Sundays are like a replay of Exodus: God’s provision in the desert and God’s deliverance of the people through the waters. What a marvelous month of August: Transfiguration, Feeding the 5,000, Dormition of Mary, and today walking on the waters! Miracles of wonder and joy. Who said Christianity is boring? Who said Christianity is only about judging people and hitting them over the head with a bible? August in the Orthodox Church is all about the miracles of life - not the miracle of life, but the miracles of life! And that was the original title of my sermon today, The Miracles of Life, until I changed it when I came to the end.

Sometimes the Gospel readings of August feel like we are re-living the events of the Exodus. Last week we saw the feeding of the 5,000 in a miracle of prayer and thanksgiving - the first liturgy I called it. Jesus then sent his disciples to cross the waters of Galilee while he stayed behind to pray. Then, as we read today, in the early hours of the morning, he comes to them in the midst of a storm that is holding them back from crossing the waters to the other side. These two Sundays are like a replay of Exodus: God’s provision in the desert and God’s deliverance of the people through the waters. What a marvelous month of August: Transfiguration, Feeding the 5,000, Dormition of Mary, and today walking on the waters! Miracles of wonder and joy. Who said Christianity is boring? Who said Christianity is only about judging people and hitting them over the head with a bible? August in the Orthodox Church is all about the miracles of life - not the miracle of life, but the miracles of life! And that was the original title of my sermon today, The Miracles of Life, until I changed it to something that will come at the end.

Sometimes it feels like we are re-living the events of the Exodus. After the feeding of the 5,000, we go from the wilderness to the sea - from God’s provision in the desert to God’s deliverance through the waters. Last week we saw Jesus dependent on God through prayer and offering of the loaves of bread in a miracle of thanksgiving - the first liturgy I called it. Jesus then sent his disciples to cross the waters of Galilee while he stayed behind to pray. Then, in the early hours of the morning, he comes to them in the midst of a storm that is holding them back from crossing the waters to the other side. What a marvelous month of August we have gone through: Transfiguration, Feeding the 5,000, Dormition of Mary, and today walking on the waters! Miracles of wonder and joy. Who said Christianity is boring? Who said Christianity is only about judging people and hitting them over the head with a bible? August in the Orthodox Church is all about the miracles of life - not the miracle of life, but the miracles of life!

But let’s talk about the water. What does it symbolize to the Hebraic mind? Throughout the OT water, especially the water of the raging sea, represents chaos and opposition to God’s purposes. So the God of Israel is shown to trample on the waves and he walks “in the recesses of the deep”. Throughout the OT the Lord triumphs over the waters. Note what Jesus says to the horrified disciples: Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid. But the entire scene has echoes of the OT and so does the ego eimi - echose of , AM.

But let’s talk about the water. What did it symbolize to the Hebraic mind? Throughout the OT water, especially the waters of the raging sea, represented chaos and opposition to God’s purposes. So the God of Israel is shown to triumph over the waters. Note what Jesus says to the horrified disciples: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” The entire scene has echoes of the OT and so does the ego eimi - echo of , AM.

And then there’s Peter, good ol’ enterprising Peter. On the mount of transfiguration he wanted to build tents to make the moment last. Here he wants to walk with Jesus on the waters. Sorry, Peter, it doesn’t work that way. You walking on the water would be a magic trick, and God does not condone magic tricks. Only the Lord walks on the waters. Only the Lord multiplies loaves. Only the Lord is transfigured. And only the Lord takes us into divine glory! “Truly you are the Son of God,” Peter declares, and with him we all do. But he did get out of the boat, and that’s what we are called to do. And he cried out, “Lord, save me!” We also are called to

And then there’s Peter, good ol’ enterprising, spontaneous Peter, so full of himself. On the mount of transfiguration he wanted to build tents to make the experience last. Here he wants to walk with Jesus on the waters. Sorry, Peter, it doesn’t work that way. You walking on the water would be a magic trick, and God does not do magic tricks. Only the Lord walks on the waters. Only the Lord multiplies loaves. Only the Lord is transfigured. And only the Lord takes us into divine glory! But he did get out of the boat, and that’s what we are called to do - get out of the boat of safety, the boat of the tried and true, the boat of this is how we always did it. And Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” And he did declare, “Truly you are the Son of God.” And so do we.

But what do these days of August tell us about our Lord, the true Son of God? What are the miracles of life in Christ? There is the miracle of divine providence. God provides. And there is always much left over for us to spread around and not be stingy with the overabundance of gifts that the Lord has bestowed to our world and life on it. There is the miracle of boldness and courage in faith. Christ invites us to share the walk with him, to be messengers of his righteousness, but not in order to show off like Peter tried to do. God does not tolerate show-offs and people who use religion and church to boost their egos. Next Sunday, as we conclude these days of August, we will hear of the boy whom the disciples could not heal because they were more concerned about their egos!

The transfiguration of Christ was a huge miracle. But it was not a big public miracle. It was only witnessed by three disciples and two guests from the past – from the distant past. Moses and Elijah both had their own ego problems. They expected certain rewards from God back in the days when they worked for the God of Israel. But God refused to give them exactly what they desired. The rewards had to wait a thousand years, to happen right here on the mount of transfiguration. Talk about delayed gratification, eh? Isn’t it reassuring to know that you’re no more egotistical than the great saints of the faith? And isn’t it reassuring to know that whatever disappointments you experience from God, you will someday receive blessings greater than anything your ego can dream up? Delayed gratification is alright with me, if it comes from God!

The miracles of life happen when we can rise above our narrow self-interests. When we can expand our mental and emotional horizons and work with God selflessly, with no expectation of reward. The reward will come, but not in the way we expect. Learn from Moses and Elijah, learn from Peter, learn from the father and son next Sunday. Learn from those 5,000 men and the women and children last Sunday.

But please, let’s not beat around the bush. The delayed gratification I’m speaking of has nothing to do with childish dreams and desires. The delayed gratification is all about the greatest miracle that life can bring. Look at the two icons of August. The rays of light, the rays of deification and sanctification flow from the transfigured Jesus. But in the icon of the Dormition, Mary is taken into the divine glory! It is the final promise for all of us. Compare that to your small ideas of delayed gratification. Don’t sell yourself short. What God has in store for us is beyond anything we can imagine or our egos desire.