MISFIT HEROES

Daniel 7:9-14; PS 97 The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Mt 17:1-9

Wonder how often in movies its the misfits that become the heroes, the outcast that get the glory, those on the fringe of society seem to be the ones who are chosen to lead the charge of goodness over darkness?

From the Isle of the Misfit toys who save Christmas  in Rudolph to the recent released movie Guardians of the Galaxy, it is the ones we least expect become the bearer of great expectations.

These misfits who begin with a certain self centeredness, a drive for power and glory and money some how get transformed.  They begin to set aside their selfishness and truly begin to click as a team with a higher purpose for the greater good.

IT happens with the apostles as well.  They start out as the misfits and outcast driven by self preservation and self worth.  They get caught up in their own thirst for authority and power.  I suppose hanging out with Jesus, getting hand selected by the man who walks on water as a way of doing that to someone.

But often along they journey humility comes; brokenness is revealed; selfishness fades and things begin to click for  a higher purpose and greater good.

We see this in today's gospel.  Peter, James, John were once again tagging along the side of Jesus.  They were once again singled out as different than the other 9.  Perhaps they were feeling good about themselves until the cloud over shadows them and the voice of God is heard.

Not sure what is about the voice of God but it seems to have way of bringing humility to those who hear.  Peter who was once bold and brazen becomes silent.

This experience along with the resurrection began to drive out their selfishness and direct them toward a higher purpose and greater good.

So much so, Peter recalls the events with great clarity in his letter, "For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, "This is my son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.  We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain."

What was the result of such an experience.  It wasn't arrogance but humility and deep confidence of the things to come, "we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.  You do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

That's it.  This is the higher purpose and the greater good that transforms the misfits into heroes.

It is what pulls them out o themselves so that they might live for another.
It isn't just Christ who is transfigured not he mountain but it is the beginning of the transfiguration of the apostles as well.

They get it, though it unfolds slowly nonetheless it becomes reliable and true.
Do we get it?  Have we become humbled by the voice of Christ?

We are post resurrection followers of Christ, which means we have no excuse to keep an eye on the bright and shining lamp in the darkness. Fixed on his light we move forward hearts yearning for the rising star in our hearts.