Sermon: "Awe-Filled"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Each of us has had those moments of being overwhelmed by emotion. And, at such times, we are each affected differently. For instance, it may be characteristic of us to be speechless; or, we may become tearful; or, we may jabber almost incoherently; or, we may respond in some other way that is uniquely characteristic of us. At such moments, that which happens outside us takes over in a very real sort of way. In a sense, we are at the mercy of the outside event or circumstance. Indeed, if we manage any response at all, it seems trivial and inappropriate.

I remember visiting the beach one summer as a child. On a particular day, we saw a waterspout out in the ocean. I remember quite well my feeling of amazement as I watched that waterspout move along. I was fascinated, nearly hypnotized, by the wonder of it. I had not seen anything like that previously. The memory is distinct in my mind that I really was unable to do anything but to stand there and watch. I was filled with a kind of awe.

Each one of us has this capacity, this ability, to be deeply moved. That is part of what being human is all about.

This innate capacity has been compared to a ship in a canal lock. The ship is lifted up not by anything it does but by something beyond itself - the water pouring in from outside the lock. When the ship reaches a certain level, the gate is opened, and the ship proceeds on its journey at a higher level than before. In a like way, our spirits are lifted by influences beyond ourselves. And when we proceed with life after such an experience, we seem to do so at a higher level than previously.

This must have been characteristic of the experience of Peter, James, and John, who viewed the Transfiguration of our Lord. Here were three men who accompanied Jesus up a mountain. As they stood there, Jesus' face began to shine, and his garments became glowing white.

Then, as if that were not enough, Moses and Elijah appeared. Now, these were two men of tremendous importance to the Faith of the Jews and the early Christians. Indeed, Moses represented the Law, and Elijah, the Prophets. Another thing to realize about them, though, was that they had died long before this appearance. So, there on the mountaintop appeared two of the most significant fathers of the Faith … and, people whom the disciples knew were dead.

To say the least, it must have been an impressive encounter on the top of that mountain. Think about it, from the perspective of Peter, James, and John. First, the disciples' guide on this little hike started glowing all of a sudden, and his clothes become a brilliant white. And then, two dead heroes of the past appeared, and they began talking. Pretty impressive, indeed.

At this emotional moment, James and John did not say a thing. I suspect that they could not say a thing. But Peter - never at a loss for words - blurted out something. He offered to build booths or dwellings for the three of them - for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Maybe he was thinking of some sort of shrines … or, perhaps some kind of shelter … or, as the text suggests, maybe he really did not know what he was saying.

Then, as if the anxiety and emotion were not enough already, something else happened. To tell the truth, this must have scared those disciples beyond imagination. They were standing there - two of them wide-eyed and absolutely silent, and the other one, muttering about building three structures up on top of the mountain. But then, a voice came from a nearby cloud - God's voice. And the voice said, "This is my Son, my chosen; listen to him!" Moses and Elijah disappeared. Jesus was there, alone with the disciples. And after that, even Peter was quiet. Indeed, the three disciples did not tell anyone what had happened, for a long, long time. They knew that no one would believe it … and they probably had trouble believing it themselves.

There is nothing wrong with the capacity to be moved. That is nothing to be ashamed of. Indeed, this capacity is within each of us, for it is part of being human. Peter, James, and John felt that innate capacity in a powerful way - and so do we. Our speechlessness, our tears, our impulsiveness, and our feelings of being overwhelmed are natural results of this capacity to be moved. We are affected by people and events and all sorts of things beyond ourselves.

We are raised up by some canal locks, and we are lowered by others in this life's voyage. We will be moved upward or downward as we pass through those locks. Not to be moved is to be less than fully human and less than completely alive.

Indeed, it is at those moments of being deeply moved that we are most aware of our humanity. And at those times also, we sense the presence of God. A word that is appropriate to those moments is "awe", and in fact, that word is used to describe the disciples in some translations of our passage this morning. Awe has to do with feelings of wonder, reverence, and, sometimes, fear.

When we realize profoundly our own humanity and, at the same time, sense the presence of God, we are in awe at that realization. When we gaze with disbelief at some natural wonder; when we are overcome by an expression of love; when we confront death and all its implications; or even when we hear of someone else's deeply-felt experience and realize that it touches our own lives - these are moments of awe. In such moments, we feel the very foundation of our humanity, and at the same time, we know of the magnitude and limitlessness of the presence and power of God Almighty. Perhaps we may remember these words from the "Venite": "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of him."

In conclusion, each one of us has those moments of being awe-filled. And thank God for them! Without those experiences, we would not be fully human - and without them, also, we could not experience the presence of God. Therefore, may we never be ashamed of our capacity to be moved. That capacity is one indication of our full humanity. And at those times when we are moved at a deep level of emotion, we often sense and know God Almighty in a most profound way. For such moments, therefore, thanks be to God!

Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee