Sunday Homily, August 6, 2017, Transfiguration
Folks, You are witnessing a Changing of The Team, Kevin's last formal day, Leo's first formal day.
Readings:
Daniel 7, 9-10, 13-14, His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Psalm 97, The Lord is King, the Most High over all the earth.
2 Peter 1, 16-19, This is my son with whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 17, 1-9, The Transfiguration.
Even our Special Greeter, Genevieve, is back to honor her brother Leo.
Observations on Daniel
Who : a prophet foretelling better times. Daniel is the hero, not the author, who is unknown.
Time: Babylonian captivity the scene, but put together ca. 160 before Christ during another persecution.
Subject: Dreams foretelling better times.
Today: A dream in which a great leader will come and rule with peace.
Can you find a brighter smile than that anywhere! Peighton says, "Hi, Folks, Welcome.
Transfigurations Today
This morning I would like to talk about transfigurations today and propose that this phenomenon can be almost a daily experience. Transfiguration moments create greater peace of heart, gratitude, and humility.
Guess where I saw this recently. Yes, I had a whole week of transfigurations last week in Iowa riding my bike across that state along with 15 thousand other riders.
Emma, you only get better each week as our Candle Lighter of The Week.
I have three example of how I was touched by the beauty of nature, of people, and the beauty of trust.
So, one morning about 6:30 I was pulling out of one of our first overnight towns, probably Spenser. I was one of hundreds of bikers all heading into the coming sunrise. The sky was crystal clear blue and there was ground fog. On either side of us were green contoured corn fields and soy beans.
After pedaling all week for ca. 500 miles, I find it overwhelming to come over a hill and look down suddenly on this marvelous, enormous Mississippi.
At one point we were climbing a gentle rise and curving slightly to the left. I could see a mile ahead and what I saw was the silhouettes of the riders in the fog against the brightness of the coming sunrise. It was breath taking. I was just so happy to be alive and where I was, riding my bike. A transfiguration moment of beauty. A moment of greater peace, gratitude, and humility.
Secondly, people. Picture this. It is time to eat dinner in about the 4th or 5th overnight town. I choose to go to the Methodist church for scalloped potatoes, ham, a salad, and desert for $10, all you can eat. I was looking for lasagna, but could not find it.
We pass through beautiful rolling fields of corn & soy beans, gorgeous sun rises with early morning ground fog, even a national park with serious climbs & descents. Arriving at this extraordinary, ancient river just takes my breath away.
So I walk in the side door, buy my ticket, and descend to the basement where they are serving and there are whole bunches of long tables, almost all full. I find a seat in the middle of one of those tables, across from another older guy like me. We get talking and the usual question comes out fairly quickly, “Where you from?’ Turns out he is from Iowa and very friendly. At this point the people on both sides of us finish, leave, and they are replace by 4 guys & women on each side.
The question gets asked and Michigan & out west all are represented. One of the new guys even asks me how many Ragbrais I’ve ridden, the second most common question. And, then, ‘How old are you.”
Hungry for the salad/dessert bar at Hy-Vee grocery & food court? Leave your bike, your helmet, and your gloves, all unlocked. Don't forget where you leave your bike. Return in an hour, all will be awaiting you. Incidentally, poor Hy-Vee was completely overwhelmed with the tidal wave of bikers who came through their doors. Even bikers pitched in to help bus tables (like yours truly).
That causes a ruckus. Lots of congratulations and compliments.
This was a people transfiguration. I came out of there not only with a good meal, but also a sense of greater peace, hope in the goodness of people, and humility.
Thirdly, a trust transfiguration. I have two favorite vendors in Iowa, a grocery store called Hy-Vee and a 7-11 type convenience store called Casey’s. Casey’s has the best & cheapest coffee in the morning. They are in every village.
A small piece of advice especially to first trippers, Do not ever forget where you have parked your bike.
Let's say you find your bike. Next question, Can you extricate it from the tangle of other bikes. They are usually hitched to cables running the length of the main street of each little village.
Hy-Vee has great, all you can eat salad bars for $9. Trouble is, Hy-Vee is only in the larger villages. We had 2, Spenser & Orange City. You want to get something at one of these places? Just ride up, find a place to park your bike, go in, spend 15 minutes or 60, come out, and your bike & helmet await you. Nothing is stolen.
A trust transfiguration.
Still ready to join the music team, Genevieve? Or ready to help Leo?
The Old Pro and The Rookie, Two Winners.
A bonus transfiguration. As a Jesuit I was challenged by the goal of the Renaissance man. The man is well rounded, intellectually, spiritually, and physically. I found one.
Intellectually the guy is not only a chemical engineer. He is a car mechanic. He plays the piano. He is into model trains & camping. Spiritually he is solid. Physically he is a dynamo biker. All of this & more I discovered about our own David Dinsmore.
Where do you find your transfiguration moments? The last one?
A Renaissance Man, David Dinsmore.