The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, August 6th: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Mark 9:2-10)

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TELLS COMPELLING STORY

In this week’s gospel reading, Mark described the event known as the Transfiguration. Jesus went up onto a high mountain with Peter, James, and John, and while there, His appearance became dazzling white. Then Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Understandably, the three disciples who witnessed this remarkable scene were, as Scripture tells us, “so terrified.” I suspect they did not relax very much when a booming voice suddenly came from Heaven and declared, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

In this week’s second reading, from his second epistle, St. Peter referred to the Transfiguration. He explained, “We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with [Jesus] on the holy mountain.”

The reason Peter mentioned the Transfiguration in his letter is found in the first verse of this week’s reading. He wrote, “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Cleverly devised myths.” Sound familiar? It seems these days that we Christians spend half our time refuting the charge that we have gullibly embraced fairy tales. Especially in our present secular culture, the popular attitude toward Christians is something like this: “Well, I guess praying and going to church is OK—if it makes you feel better—but you don’t actually BELIEVE those silly myths, do you?!”

Even back in the 1st century, apparently people were saying similar things to Christians. “You don’t actually believe those fairy tales about that Jesus fellow, do you, Peter?!”

Peter was trying to assure the folks who would read his letter that yes indeed, the stories about Jesus are true. The claims that Jesus is the Son of God; that He was born of the Virgin Mary; that He performed miracles; died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven; were not mythological tales added to the legend of Jesus many years after the fact. Those stories are true, Peter insisted.

As evidence, Peter cited his eyewitness status. He actually observed those events in Jesus’ life. They’re not myths, he claimed, they are facts that he saw with his own eyes.

Peter’s second epistle raises two interesting points: first, the miraculous event he mentioned is the Transfiguration. Peter could’ve mentioned many other events in the life of Jesus. After all, he was present for dozens of miracles, the Resurrection, and the Ascension. And yet, of all those spectacular moments, Peter chose to cite the Transfiguration. Even many decades afterward (which is when Peter wrote this letter), that episode on the high mountain was still vivid in Peter’s memory.

The other interesting observation is that when Peter was trying to convince others about the truth of the Gospel message, he focused on his personal experiences. This is true for us, too.

Now, of course, we don’t have quite the list of eyewitness events compared to Peter. Other than maybe Jesus’ mother, no one is history observed more miraculous moments in the life of Jesus than Peter did. But still, our personal experiences, though not as spectacular or numerous, can be very effective.

To give an example, years ago I wrote a book discussing my conversion from atheism to Christianity. (It eventually reached number 87 million on the New York Times bestseller list—out of a possible 86 million.) Part of the book is devoted to giving a detailed explanation of why the claims about Jesus are true and not just wishful thinking or mythology. Using historical evidence, logic, and reason, I offered what I consider to be solid proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be and did what the Bible claims He did. It’s not scientific proof, since you cannot use scientific methods either to prove or disprove an event from the past. Instead, it’s what is known as historical proof. (I would be quite proud of this section of the book, if any of the ideas were actually mine. I freely drew from the writings of minds much sharper than mine—duly footnoted, of course.)

Anyway, over the years when I’ve had contact with people who are skeptical about the claims of Christianity, I’ve asked them to read the methodical, logical explanation in my book, certain that it would take away all their doubts. But most of the time, after they’ve read those chapters, they just kind of shrug and say, “Yeah, whatever.” It didn’t have much impact.

But on other occasions, instead of getting into detailed explanations, I instead just talked about my personal experience. I discussed how I had developed a powerful craving for alcohol in my teenage years that was starting to ruin my life by the time I reached my late 20s. When I put my faith in Jesus and asked Him to change me, instantaneously He took away that craving. I stopped drinking right then and there, and I’ve been sober for over two decades now. The stunning transformation was due entirely to the supernatural power of Christ.

There’s really nothing very detailed or deep about my story. There’s no historical data or logical analysis or footnotes from great minds. There’s just a simple story: I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. (Ooh, I guess I should put a footnote here: quoted from “Amazing Grace,” by John Newton, c. 1765.)

Surprisingly (or at least to me), this simple little personal anecdote usually has a greater impact on people than some well-researched, detailed, foot-noted chapters in a book. People don’t shrug and say, “Yeah, whatever,” when I explain what Jesus did for me; they say, “Wow, that’s amazing.” Best of all, they often walk away deep in thought about the power of God.

So Peter knew what he was doing when he wrote his second epistle. He didn’t get complicated, he just cited his personal experience. He said, in effect, I saw it! It really happened!

All believers have a compelling personal story. All Christians have been touched in some way by the power and love of the Lord. Telling that story to others is often the most effective way of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Best of all, there’s no research or footnotes required.

©2006