Lent 3, John 2:13-22, Luke 12:32

 If he came to our churches on Sunday
 to be awkwardly greeted as stranger
 would he fashion a whip for our cleansing,
 would we cringe from his anger as danger?

 Would he drive out conservative? liberal?
 or upend those who balance on fences?
 What offence might he take, at what practice?
 Would he shake up our pews or our senses?

 Would he tear up my poems and sermons,
 say, “You fiddle while so much is burning!”?
 Would he throw out projectors or prayer books,
 call for change or a zealous returning?

 No, I hope he would gather us round him,
 knowing how we are raw and confounded,
 how we’re shaken and cast down by failure,
 how we fear that our death knell is sounded.

 He will say, “Little flock, don’t be fearful,
 for the kingdom will keep coming nearer,
 and your efforts and gifts won’t be wasted:
 what you lose is renewed and made clearer.

 For the pattern of Easter is central:
 out of death comes abundance of living;
 that’s the secret of all new creating.
 Nothing’s lost from our loving and giving.

 See my body in people not buildings!
 Know I’m with you in doubts and believing!
 Stir up zeal for compassion and justice!
 Learn to listen and wait for receiving!

 So my brothers and sisters, keep hoping!
 Seek the way and the truth, open-hearted,
 and be ready for future unfolding!
 I am in you: we cannot be parted!”

(Mark 9:2-9)

1. Climbing up there's no time to complain
we are sore but too breathless to speak.
Surely God can be near on the plain!
Tell us, why then seek God on a peak!
As for Jesus, he smiles and moves past,
and we scramble to keep him in range.
Then the view spreads before us at last:
all the world far beyond us and strange.
Refrain: Let us stay, Lord, in the brightness!
     Keep us here, Lord, on the height!
     We would build, Lord, on this rightness!
     Love and prophecy name this sight.

 2. Now see, something has changed in the light;
 in our weariness, vision has stirred:
 there’s a brightness too strange for our sight,
 and half-heard, there’s a resonant word.
 As for Jesus, he smiles and he glows,
 speaking wisdom with those of the past,
 and half-waking, we sense what he knows:
 that God’s glory is here, first and last.
 (Refrain) 

 3. There’s the vision of Moses in cloud
 on the mountain receiving the law,
 and Elijah where silence was loud –
 prophet’s burden to name what he saw.
 As for Jesus, he smiles through his tears
 as the voice says: “My Son, I’m well pleased!”
 though we fall to the ground with our fears,
 now our doubts and confusion are eased.
 (Refrain)

 4. Then we want to stay there, where it’s clear
 that tradition and vision give hope.
 God says: “Listen to him!” and we hear
 – but it’s gone beyond us and we mope.
 As for Jesus, he turns and descends
 to the clamour of people in need;
 and he faces the cross where it ends –
 and begins again. Now we must lead.
 (Refrain)