One Way Out.

Epiphany Last

February 27, 2022

Fr. Tim Nunez

Have any of you ever been to a corn maze? I instantly liked the idea just for the pun: corn – maize is actually a type of corn. It’s amazing, really. If you ever do go to one, it’s set up like a scavenger hunt and they give you a map. It’s a fun diversion for an afternoon.

But that’s different from the more traditional mazes, whether it’s the ones from ancient times going back to labyrinths or medieval ones with tall hedges or the ones you can do on paper or in a puzzle book. With those there tends to be one goal, one solution, one way in and one way out.

Mazes interest us because they reflect in a puzzle the hard realities of life. People often speak of life as a journey. We surely know there is only one way in – through birth. As we grow and take on independence and responsibility we face very real obstacles and detours, and dead ends. Eventually we all deal with the reality that is finding our way out. One day I was driving into Homeland, just south of Bartow on SR 640. Just east of US 17, I noticed the Homeland Cemetery Road sign, underneath it says, “NO OUTLET” in all capital letters. I find that…unsatisfactory.

When Jesus meets with Moses and Elijah, Moses is the great receiver of the law and Elijah is the greatest prophet since Moses. Our English translation says they are talking with Jesus about his departure. The Greek word for departure should sound familiar to you: Exodus. It means literally, “way out.”

The Exodus was God’s “way out” for Israel from a life of slavery in Egypt into new life in the promised land. They had gone into Egypt as essentially a large family. Four hundred years later, they left as a large multitude – hundreds of thousands. Moses represents God’s gift of the law, which he provided to this unruly people to establish civil order and direct their personal behavior. That was necessary, but it didn’t complete their ‘way out” from sin and death.

But they struggled to keep their covenant with God, to be the people he called them to be. Elijah is chief among the prophets who God repeatedly sent to call them back to faithfulness. We identify with that because we struggle too.

Jesus does not contradict either of them, he doesn’t contradict what they represent. He supersedes them because he is that radiant Son of the Father who will atone for people’s failure to live right with God and become the radiant, shining light to guide them through and out of the maze this life. He is our “way out.”

And note what this scene does to Peter, James and John. They have seen who Jesus truly is. Their minds cannot yet fully grasp it, Peter misunderstands and thinks he should put Jesus on par with Moses and Elijah. He will fail several more times right through his denials of Jesus the night before the crucifixion. But the vision is planted all the same. It will shape them all their days, and their witness continues to bring people to see Jesus for who he really is.

Note that when they come off the mountain they face the hard reality of the suffering evil inflicts on God’s people. The man’s son is being mauled by this evil spirit. Mauled. Jesus’ disciples were not able to heal him but Jesus does. And there, again, we get a glimpse of who he truly is. He is the one that will confront the vicious evil that afflicts God’s people and set things right.

Which brings us to Miss Raeleigh James. Her parents are new to the area and Raeleigh is new, period, just 6 weeks old. One of the key issues that will shape her life is her identity. Much of that will be shaped by her parents’ constant care. Everything in their lives is revolving around her care. They love her so very much. They will celebrate her growth and development at every stage. They will oversee her education, support her when she tries sports, musical instruments and other interests.

Of course, one day she will be a teenager, a season of life when identity is vitally important and often awkward. I know it was for me, anyway, and I know it has been for a lot of people forever. Think of all the coming-of-age movies and how funny they can be.

But now the whole issue of identity is much, much more fragmented. The effects various platforms of social media are having on our kids is worrisome if not frightening. Reality and virtual reality, they often don’t know who or what they are. As soon as you hand them a phone, be it yours or their own, they are at risk. Just like you have to teach her to drive and then, one day, hand her the keys, you need to prepare her.

We of course lay down rules and advice on what to do and to not do, where to go and what to avoid, and how to escape from trouble. But laying down the law isn’t most important. Do you want to raise a child who scrupulously follows the rules or one who doesn’t need rules because she is wise and good and true from her heart? You want her to exercise judgment, to have a core of character and strength that causes her to yearn for the good and deflect the evil this world will throw at her and to, by God’s grace, overcome it.

I find the best way to find identity is to look at Jesus as he truly is, to gaze at his radiant goodness, to feel the warmth of his unbreakable love.

Their decision to find Good Shepherd and inquire about baptism when she was brand new is a powerful step. We are and will be here for her and for you every step of the way.

What is true for her is true for all of us. Focus on Jesus and he will transform you, day by day, into his own likeness, and ultimately out of the maze.

AMEN