Exodus

Think back to your years as a young child, to those particular years when you resented the fact that you had to go to bed before the grown-ups. You were old enough to know that the adults were still awake—doing things, talking about things—but you were not permitted to be a part of their activity. I remember vividly the weeks before Christmas when I was absolutely sure that my parents were staying up late into the night discussing and planning my Christmas presents. What would we have given then to be able to listen in on those grown-up conversations?

Even as grown-ups ourselves we sometimes still find ourselves in the same position. Wondering what the boss is talking about behind closed doors. Wondering what those in political power really say about world events when they are safe from reporters’ eyes and ears. Wishing we could hear what the more powerful are talking about. Wishing we could overhear their conversations—especially those conversations that are about us and may affect our future lives.

In today’s gospel reading Peter, James and John got to listen in on a conversation that would usually have been beyond their power or privilege to hear, a conversation between Jesus, Moses and Elijah. It was a conversation that could really only take place in heaven itself. Having lived in different times, Jesus, Moses and Elijah could not meet and speak any other place. But somehow on that mountaintop, Peter, James and John were invited, enabled, to overhear this divine conversation. And, although they may not have realized it at the time, it was certainly a conversation about them and the future course of their lives.

Luke tells us what Jesus, Moses and Elijah were taking about. They were speaking about Jesus’ departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Jesus’ departure. Actually, the Greek word that Luke uses is "exodus." Jesus’ exodus. Peter, James and John got to hear one conversation between the Son of God and the heavenly presences of Moses and Elijah, and that conversation was about exodus. Evidently God thought that was the most important message they needed to hear.

It may strike you, of course, that Exodus is a subject that Moses, in particular, knew quite a bit about. The word itself is quite mundane. To this day, I understand, passengers getting off a bus in Greece depart the bus through a door marked "exodus." It means exit. Departure. Leaving. But when we speak of The Exodus, we refer to the most important event in the early life of the Hebrew people. It was The Exodus that gave them their entire purpose and identity as the people of God. In the Hebrew Scriptures the Exodus event encompasses a good bit of history. It begins with the Hebrew’s enslavement in Egypt and Moses’ call from God in the burning bush to lead them to freedom. There are the plagues, including the killing of the firstborn of Egypt during the Passover, and the desperate flight through the Red Sea… The long wanderings in the Wilderness, led by Moses, and finally the crossing of the Jordan into the Promised Land. But the most important piece of this great epic tale—the piece that gives the whole history its name is The Exodus. The exit. The leaving. Isn’t it interesting that this archetypal, seminal, defining story is not called The Arrival? The whole story of the Hebrew people finds its meaning in the moment of departure, when they left behind that which enslaved them and began a journey. Exodus. Departure.

Epochs later on the mountaintop Jesus, Moses and Elijah spoke about exodus. And when Peter, James and John overheard that conversation they learned something very important about their own lives. They learned that Exodus was still the defining characteristic of the people of God. They learned that being Jesus’ disciples is all about exodus. The life of a disciple is about leaving where you are and beginning a journey led by God’s guidance.

Several places in Scripture we discover that Peter can be a slow learner. This event is no exception. Peter’s response to God’s revelation about exodus, about departure, was to seek to build some booths and stay put. Maybe all of them could just settle in and enjoy the shining glory of the moment. After all, why move on? What could be better than what they had right there on the mountaintop? Surely they had arrived at their spiritual destination. Surely they had arrived…

And then the thunder roared and God said, "Listen to my Son." But God’s Son was talking about exodus, and as soon as the clouds had cleared Jesus’ began his exodus. He left the mountaintop and began his journey towards Jerusalem. And Peter, James and John followed. Peter, for one, obviously had more to learn, more to do…

This conversation on the mountaintop really only confirmed the message that Jesus’ had been saying all along. Throughout his time with the disciples, Jesus had been saying to them, "follow me." Follow me. Follow me and I will lead you on your own exodus, away from what enslaves and binds you, towards God’s promise for you. But we must depart. Exodus.

We may learn a little more about the faithful life of exodus by considering The Exodus of the early Hebrew’s. Today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus reminds us that God gave the law to the people while they were in the wilderness. It was not in Egypt, nor in the Promised Land, but while they were on the way that God came to them and taught them how to live as God’s people. God’s most important revelation to them came to them while they were moving, in the midst of their journey. And so it will be for us, too. We will become God’s people as we travel with him. Yet the Book of Exodus also tells us that God was never far from them. God’s guidance was as clear as a cloud by day or a pillar of fire by night. There was no mistaking God’s presence or his care. And God gave the people food and drink in the midst of a desert that stretches for many miles without either. God was and will be with the people of God throughout our journey, giving us all that we truly needed.

Yet the Exodus story reminds us that they set out with very little. They began their journey with sandals and staffs and bread that had not had time to leaven. We gather every Sunday to share just a bit of unleavened bread. It may not be much in terms of quantity, but it is more than enough. In some Christian traditions, the bread is distributed with the words: "Food for the journey." The purpose and the power of this holy meal are to sustain us in our exodus.

It is not a question of if or when or why any individual may or may not begin this walk. No matter how wonderful the moment, Jesus never stood still for long, not while he lived this mortal life among us. To be a follower of Christ is to live a life of exodus.

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Lent is a good time to focus on this idea of exodus. In Lent we typically give up or take on special practices. Think of it in terms of exodus. We are to give up whatever enslaves us, limits our relationship with God. And what we take on should be steps that lead us closer to God’s promise. Steps away from slavery towards promise. This is the exodus journey of Lent.

Please take Lent seriously. On Ash Wednesday the church will invite us all to the observance of a holy Lent. Let us look carefully at our own lives and ask where God is leading us… what steps we are to take on our own exodus this year.

Maybe it is a step of self-offering. Finding a new way to offer our imagination or ideas or spirit to help make God’s promise real in the world around us.

Maybe our Lenten journey this year is to be one of exploration. A focused practice of reading Scripture to lead us to see and explore parts of the landscape of God’s kingdom that we have not seen or known before.

Discipline is always a hallmark of exodus. Changing the habits of our lives—what we eat, what we do—these Lenten disciplines remind us that God, not our own appetites, is our guide through the wilderness.

And prayer. It is only in prayer that we will overhear the heavenly, mountain top conversations that pertain to our own lives. In prayer we will hear God’s words spoken about us, about God’s purpose for us, about the course of our own exodus journey. And in prayer we will also hear God’s promise… God’s promise that if we step out, if we begin this Lenten exodus, it will lead us to Easter.

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