The Transfiguration...

Here are some general thoughts on the Transfiguration....Not sure what I'm gonna do with it, but these are just some rambling thoughts I've had throughout the week.  As always, I appreciate any helpful insights.

We as humans are all infatuated with the looks of things.  Moses' face is radiating with the glory of the Lord as he comes down with the two stone tablets.  Yet, this glory is only revealed when he speaks on behalf of the Lord.  When he speaks, the veil is taken off and the glory of the Lord is revealed through his preaching.   The people see him and fear him, yet the Lord still bids him to speak.   Peter, James and John go up the mountain with Jesus.  This Jesus who is the Word made flesh. His glory is veiled in the midst of His speaking, healing and other miraculous signs and wonders.  Then on the mountain He is transfigured.   That which was reflected off Moses' face is now completely encompassing all of the Christ.   Peter, James and John try to capture the moment, they try to hold on to this mountain-top experience.  For a brief moment, the disciples see how things will be, but are not now.   But faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.   "This is my beloved Son, hear Him!" says the Father.   Forget the looks, the revealed glory, listen to the Word made flesh.    This Word made flesh which would ascend the true mountain of glory in Golgotha.   For the Lord uses the foolish things of the world to shame that which is wise, He uses the weak thins of the world to overcome that which is strong.   Its that hour where the Word made flesh is torn and crucified and the glory of the Lord is revealed for all to see and behold.  Yet in the eyes of the world the Word made  Flesh on the cross is not esteemed, He is a man of sorrows a reproach, a failure.  But do not let your eyes deceive you, Listen to Him!.  The Word made flesh speaks..."forgive them".   The Law of Moses is fulfilled, the new and better way is established through veil of Jesus' flesh.  In the Divine service let not your eyes be fooled.  Listen to the message of the cross which is foolishness to the world, and yet is  the more sure and prophetic Word that we have now in our midst.   Receive the body and blood of Christ which is a foretaste of that glorious feast that is to come.   And as we continue in these things take comfort in the very words of the benediction "the Lord make  His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you....' and he has all through the beloved Son speaking to us the Words of eternal life, your sins are forgiven.

Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow...No, Seriously, Get Some Sleep!!!!

 
When nightfall comes; I can't sleep.   I've tried everything out there from over-the-counter meds, to prescriptions and those seem to do the trick for a while, but I don't want to remain on them.  I've tried red wine, reading, beer, scotch (not all at once) and of course prayer.   My problem is that I lay down and immediately my mind begins racing.  It races through the day that I had, the day that I'm supposed to wake up to, all the way back to things I did a month, 6 months, to 20 years ago.  I think about decisions I've made, thoughts I've had and conversations with all sorts of people; some of which I have not seen or heard from in a long time.

Then end result is that I feel like I'm better staying up and occupying my time by browsing ESPN or websites about my favortie music groups or even Facebook (maybe that's my problem).  Eventually I find myself nodding off around 2 or 3 a.m. and then I head to bed.  I've tried going to be earlier, but then I find that I wake up around 3 or 4 in the morning and can't fall back to sleep.   I don't drink caffiene past noontime and I don't take meds that keep me wired.   I think its probably just another symptom of my ongoing battle with depression.   While most think that depressed people have a hard time getting out of bed, and come across as generally having no motivation to get up and move, I also think there is an element to not being able to sleep.   I remember Dr. John Kleinig talking about how late at night is traditionally called "the witching hour" for the very reason that we are very weak and tired during the night, both physically and spiritually.  Its during this time where I begin to think about so many things, from my own flaws and foibles, to my family and what lies ahead for them in the future, to my parish and my parishioners and what they face day in and day out.   Then comes in the worry and doubt and fretting over what is going to happen next   Once again my depressed state brings out the selfish thinking that I can solve everyone else's problems or try to be the one who can figure it all out for others.  Yet, I'm obviously not doing myself any good.    In the midst of writing this I was immediately reminded of Paul Gerhardt's hymn "Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadows".  I looked this hymn up online and immediately found solice in what he wrote....Why didn't I think of looking at this earlier? I think I'll be taking this hymn to bed....but not to think about it, but to pray it and hopefully the Lord will grant me a restful night.  Your thoughts?

Now rest beneath night’s shadow

The woodland, field, and meadow,

The world in slumber lies;

But Thou, my heart, awake thee,

To prayer and song betake thee;

Let praise to thy Creator rise.

The radiant sun hath vanished,

His golden rays are banished

By night, the foe of day;

But Christ, the Sun of gladness,

Dispelling all my sadness,

Within my heart holds constant sway.

The rule of day is over

And shining jewels cover

The heaven’s boundless blue.

Thus I shall shine in heaven,

Where crowns of gold are given

To all who faithful prove and true.

To rest my body hasteth,

Aside its garments casteth,

Types of mortality;

These I put off and ponder

How Christ will give me yonder

A robe of glorious majesty.

Lord Jesus, who dost love me,

Oh, spread Thy wings above me

And shield me from alarm!

Though evil would assail me,

Thy mercy will not fail me:

I rest in Thy protecting arm.

My loved ones, rest securely,

For God this night will surely

From peril guard your heads.

Sweet slumbers may He send you

And bid His hosts attend you

And through the night watch o’er your beds.

Baaaaah--ck for more...

So, after some prodding from others in the blogosphere, I've decided to resurrect The Schaafs Kopf once again.  Not sure what I will post on first....any suggestions??