Preaching the Scriptures

The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Luke 9:28-43a   Where the miracles happen Christ Church, Gilbertsville   On this day, eleven years ago, I skipped church.   I just didn’t show up.   That wasn’t the plan.   I went to bed fully expecting to preach and celebrate at both 8 and 10am.   But I didn’t.   Because, unexpectedly, something else came up.   Or perhaps, I should say, came out.   At 9:58am, on Sunday, March 2, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, in the year 2014, I met Isaiah Williamson.   And the first thing he did was scream at me.   And the first thing I did was fall in love with him.   Every year, on his birthday, we celebrate the special person Isaiah is becoming.   And also every year, in my mind and in my heart, I am transported back to our first meeting.   It is a day forever preserved in the amber of aching joy.   And something in me wants to build a dwelling in that perfect day. ...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Mark 9:2-9 Change Don’t let the Gospel fool you: Peter knew exactly what he was saying and why he was saying it.  I have no doubt that he was awestruck and terrified, and so I can concede that perhaps his response to the Transfiguration was not terribly well thought out.  But then that probably just means his response was actually honest, not pious, not guarded, but the honest expression of his heart. The word “transfiguration” comes from a Latin word that means a “change of form.”  And so I believe Peter’s response to Jesus’ transfiguration was a very natural human response to the change he witnessed, to change in general: don’t.  Don’t change.  After a lifetime of fishing for something, Peter found meaning and purpose in Jesus and change was threatening that.  Change reminds us that nothing beautiful can be frozen in time.  Each moment brings a change with it that transports us into the next changing moment...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 17:1-9 Do not be afraid It started out as a normal day in first century Palestine. The disciples were shooting the breeze, maybe arguing about rank and order, maybe retelling the stories of feeding miracles and amazing healings. Everyone in the crew had mostly forgotten about the uncomfortable incident from six days earlier – or at least they were pretending to have forgotten. It is embarrassing still for Peter, so I won't get into it, except to say that no one likes being called “Satan” – especially by Jesus. But the thing about Jesus is: even a serious rebuke is colored with love. And so on this perfectly ordinary day, when Jesus felt like a hike, he personally invited Peter, along with James and John. It seemed like a good day for a hike and so the guys strapped on their boots, grabbed their water, I don't know, satchel, pouch, probably not bottle, and hit the trail. They followed Jesus up the mountain. I mean, up the...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Mark 9:2-9   Getting Glimpses There is something about this story that is so difficult to discuss – as if the light were still so bright, as to be unapproachable.   And like Peter, I find myself wanting more – more time, more detail, more ascribed meaning.   Because as it is it seems a surprisingly small event – especially given the magnitude. Jesus invited only three.   He had twelve disciples of course but nine were not there; he had other followers too – the ones who come and go as the story unfolds; they were not invited either.   And it would seem that were he concerned with making converts or winning disciples, this mountaintop experience that we call the Transfiguration, could be useful.   Certainly no such event would be wasted on such a small audience today – if not a public event at least an opportunity to self-promote on social media. But as it is, Jesus hikes up the mountain with just three of ...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 17:1-9 Vision What really happened up on that mountain?   Maybe that is a strange question. I mean, the details, while clearly extraordinary, are recorded in a pretty straightforward manner.   What we know is this: the three, Peter, James, and John, followed Jesus up the mountain – not long after Peter's confession.   And we know they came back down.   And we know that according to those witnesses whatever happened up there was big, huge.   We also know that there were no other witnesses.   And so the testimony comes entirely from those three men. And it's pretty shocking testimony.   They climbed the mountain with one called Jesus – a popular teacher, the son of a local craftsman, enemy of the state.   Now, the report, presumably from the only witnesses, says that on the mountaintop, Jesus started glowing, his clothing became dazzling white.   And apparently two men, Moses and Elijah, b...