Transformed In Christ
Sermon
Sermons on the Gospel Readings
Series I, Cycle A
"Hoke, you are my best friend." It took Daisy Werthan almost twenty years to make that statement; it wasn't easy. The relationship between Daisy and Hoke was not mutual or cordial at the outset. Daisy had driven her beautiful new 1948 Packard into her neighbor's backyard. Boolie Werthan, Daisy's son, thought that such an incident was sufficient evidence to warrant that his mother stop driving; she needed a driver, a chauffeur. Hoke Coleburn, a middle--aged black man, was Boolie's choice for the job. Daisy, however, would not accept this restriction, this change in her life; she was not open to being transformed.
Boolie may have hired Hoke, but that did not mean that Miss Daisy had to use him. As Hoke stood idle, Miss Daisy took the street car wherever she went, to the hairdresser or the grocery store. Hoke Coleburn was being paid for doing nothing. That is exactly how Miss Daisy wanted things.
As stubborn as she could be, Miss Daisy ultimately did change her attitude. One day she needed a few things from the store. She left the house and began to walk toward the streetcar. Hoke decided that Miss Daisy's refusal to use his services needed to end. As she walked down the sidewalk, Hoke slowly drove alongside in the new 1948 Hudson Boolie had purchased for his mother. "Where are you going," scowled Daisy. Hoke replied, "I'm fixin' to take you to the store!" Although still not content with the arrangement, Daisy agreed to get into the car; her conversion had begun.
Daisy did not approve, but Hoke had become her chauffeur. Whether it was to the temple, you see Miss Daisy was Jewish, the store, or a trip to Mobile to visit relatives, Daisy and Hoke went together. As the years passed, their relationship as driver and passenger grew; they bonded together. Then one day Miss Daisy's conversion became complete. The process had been long and sometimes difficult, but now it was finished. She could finally say, "Hoke, you are my best friend."
Alfred Uhry's 1988 Pulitzer Prize winning play, Driving Miss Daisy, tells more than a story of the relationship between a black chauffeur and an elderly, rich, Jewish widow. It is a story of the challenge to be transformed in mind and heart to a sense of acceptance in one's life. Lent is a season when the church calls us to reflect upon our lives and see how we need to be transformed to a stronger relationship with God. Today's popular and familiar passage from John's Gospel challenges us, like Nicodemus, to be transformed to Christ.
Nicodemus represents the quintessence of Judaism in every way. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin (the governing body of the Jews that was recognized by the Romans), and a rabbi. It is this upstanding and completely legitimate member of the Jewish ruling elite who comes to Jesus, under the secrecy and cover of darkness, to speak with him. From the outset it is clear that Nicodemus recognizes that Jesus is not simply one of the prophets of old, for he addresses him as rabbi, a title used by Jesus' disciples only after they recognize him as the Christ - the anointed one. It is certainly not accidental that the Johannine author uses one of the most prominent men in Jewish society as an example of one who seeks to be transformed to Christ. If the Jewish leadership can see the correct path, then others should follow.
In his conversation with Jesus, Nicodemus is confused on what is necessary to be transformed. The symbolism of being born again of water and spirit is certainly an illusion for John's readers to Christian baptism, but for Nicodemus the confusion is purposeful for it allows Jesus to clearly state his teaching. Jesus, quite clearly, is speaking of the need to be transformed not in any physical way, but in heart and mind. For Nicodemus, the transformation is his understanding of the significance and truth of Jesus' message. In one of the most popular verses that many have memorized from scripture, Jesus succinctly states the basic message of the gospels, in truth the basic message of the New Testament: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but find eternal life" (3:16). For the new kingdom which Jesus inaugurates to be possible, there is a need for one to experience spiritual re--birth. If a person might fear seeking such a change or transformation in one's life, the individual needs only to realize that "God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (3:17).
Daisy Werthan needed to be converted - to be transformed. Her attitude toward the loss of her independence needed to be changed. But this did not happen overnight; rather the process she experienced was absolutely necessary for her to eventually be able to say, "Hoke, you are my best friend." Daisy's experience is one illustration of a reality for all - transformation takes time and shortcuts to its end product only lead to problems and disappointments.
The need to stay the course in our transformation can be illustrated in the world of science. One day, a student found a cocoon in the wild and brought it to the biology lab at school. The teacher placed the cocoon in an unused aquarium with a lamp shining on it to keep it warm. After one week a small opening was seen on the underside of the cocoon. The students in the class watched as the cocoon shook and suddenly small antennae emerged, followed by a head and some tiny feet. The students were impatient and wanted to see more. As time went by the insect's listless wings were uncovered, revealing beautiful colors that told all that this was a monarch butterfly. The insect wiggled and shook but could not free itself completely from the cocoon; it appeared to be stuck. Finally one rather impulsive student decided to help the butterfly out of its difficulty. He took some scissors and snipped the cocoon's rather restrictive opening, allowing the insect to free itself. The top half looked like a butterfly with droopy wings, but the bottom half which just emerged from the cocoon was malformed. The butterfly could not fly, but only managed to crawl around the bottom of the aquarium, dragging its wings and swollen body. Within a short time the butterfly died. The next day the biology teacher explained that the butterfly's struggle to free itself from the cocoon was absolutely necessary in order to force the fluid from the lower body into the wings. Without the struggle the wings never developed and the insect could not fly. The struggle was necessary to be transformed.
After realizing that transformation is necessary, and takes time, we must have the courage to ask - what needs transformation in our lives? For some the need is to be transformed in the way we view ourselves. One of the great problems of contemporary society is a lack of self--respect, self--love, and self--confidence. Too often today the world pushes us down, making us feel inadequate. We live in a very intolerant and unforgiving society that demands action, performance, and success. Not making the grade is unsatisfactory. We often lose heart and feel defeated. We might not possess the talent, academic potential, or physical stature or appearance of another, causing us to again think less of ourselves. Such a state of personal disrespect requires transformation.
We need to be able to look into a mirror and not only see, but fully believe, that the reflection we view is a child of God. We need to believe in ourselves and we can with the assistance of another. A good example of such transformation is found in the story of Dulcinea, one of the principal characters in the popular Broadway musical, Man of la Mancha. The audience learns that Don Quixote, the chief protagonist, lives with many illusions, most especially his idea that he is a knight errant who battles dragons in the form of windmills. At the end of the play as he lays dying, Don Quixote has at his side a prostitute, Aldonza, whom he has called throughout the play Dulcinea - Sweet One - much to the laughter of the local townsfolk. But Don Quixote has loved her in a way unlike she has ever experienced. When Quixote breathes his last Aldonza begins to sing "The Impossible Dream." As the echo of the song dies away, someone shouts to her, "Aldonza!" But she pulls away proudly and responds, "My name is Dulcinea." The crazy's knight's love had transformed her.
Transformation of our attitudes toward others is also needed by many. Sometimes we place people on the margins and fringes of society, as assuredly as others do to us. There are times, as well, that we place ourselves above others. We separate and differentiate between people - those who can help us and those who cannot, those we consider friends and those we do not, those who live on the proper side of the tracks and those who do not, those who have the correct skin color, or religion, and those who do not. We can create a destructive atmosphere in our relationships with others and not lift one finger. Our attitudes, words, and actions can lift people up or tear them down; it is all up to us!
Lent is a time to transform our personal habits. We need to heed the warnings and advice we have received with respect to personal health and have the courage to change to a more sane, healthier, and more productive lifestyle. We know what we need - to lose weight, stop smoking, cease certain activity - but we often balk. At times we are lazy or do not want to pay the price that the removal of a certain habit will cost.
All of us need to transform our faith practice; there is always more that can be done. We need to do a better job of eliminating sin and resisting temptation. We can make great strides toward the achievement of these goals through our daily prayer. Our conversation with God must be central to the life of all people of faith, yet too often the busy contemporary lifestyle we lead causes us to find and make excuses for not taking time to pray. Transformation means we make prayer a priority and make no excuses for our failures. We need to renew our baptismal commitment and take on with a renewed sense of purpose and fervor our relationship with God. The Pauline author reminds us vividly: "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself" (1 Timothy 2:11--13).
Transformation is, in essence, the process of turning the dirty laundry of our lives into something that is clean and useful. This idea is illustrated in an apocryphal but nonetheless instructive story of the famous British monarch Queen Victoria. One day her highness paid a visit to a paper mill on the outskirts of London. Without realizing who his distinguished visitor was, the foreman showed the Queen around the facility. She went into the rag sorting shop of the mill where workers sorted rags that were refuse from the city. Upon inquiring what was done with these seemingly worthless rags, she was informed that they would eventually become the finest white writing paper. After the Queen's departure the foreman was informed who the special visitor was. Some time later, the Queen received a package of the most delicate, pure white stationery, bearing her likeness for a watermark. Enclosed was a note that said the paper came from the dirty rags she had recently inspected.
Transformation takes courage, for if we do it well the personal discoveries may be revelatory: A man, returning from a weekend retreat reported to his neighbor, "I died this weekend." Puzzled the neighbor asked him what he meant. The man responded, "I went on a retreat not knowing what to expect. What I discovered is that I have been spending my whole life hiding from others behind a whole host of different masks. I realized that even my wife had not seen me as I truly am. I had been playing games with her, my children, and many others - never letting anyone know who I truly am. The worse thing I discovered, however, was that I really didn't know myself. I was not in touch with my feelings and who I really am. As this was being discovered this weekend, I died over and over again." He continued, "It was painful as a middle--aged man to discover that I did not know myself. I am convinced that one needs to go through the death experience in order to become the person Gods wishes us to be."
As our Lenten journey continues, let us look into our hearts, as Miss Daisy was forced to do, and ask the difficult question: "What needs to be transformed in my life?" Then, with the information we have secured, let us courageously go forth and seek new beginnings in attitude, personal conduct, and faith. Let us be transformed to Christ, the one who died to set us free and will one day bring us to eternal life.
Boolie may have hired Hoke, but that did not mean that Miss Daisy had to use him. As Hoke stood idle, Miss Daisy took the street car wherever she went, to the hairdresser or the grocery store. Hoke Coleburn was being paid for doing nothing. That is exactly how Miss Daisy wanted things.
As stubborn as she could be, Miss Daisy ultimately did change her attitude. One day she needed a few things from the store. She left the house and began to walk toward the streetcar. Hoke decided that Miss Daisy's refusal to use his services needed to end. As she walked down the sidewalk, Hoke slowly drove alongside in the new 1948 Hudson Boolie had purchased for his mother. "Where are you going," scowled Daisy. Hoke replied, "I'm fixin' to take you to the store!" Although still not content with the arrangement, Daisy agreed to get into the car; her conversion had begun.
Daisy did not approve, but Hoke had become her chauffeur. Whether it was to the temple, you see Miss Daisy was Jewish, the store, or a trip to Mobile to visit relatives, Daisy and Hoke went together. As the years passed, their relationship as driver and passenger grew; they bonded together. Then one day Miss Daisy's conversion became complete. The process had been long and sometimes difficult, but now it was finished. She could finally say, "Hoke, you are my best friend."
Alfred Uhry's 1988 Pulitzer Prize winning play, Driving Miss Daisy, tells more than a story of the relationship between a black chauffeur and an elderly, rich, Jewish widow. It is a story of the challenge to be transformed in mind and heart to a sense of acceptance in one's life. Lent is a season when the church calls us to reflect upon our lives and see how we need to be transformed to a stronger relationship with God. Today's popular and familiar passage from John's Gospel challenges us, like Nicodemus, to be transformed to Christ.
Nicodemus represents the quintessence of Judaism in every way. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin (the governing body of the Jews that was recognized by the Romans), and a rabbi. It is this upstanding and completely legitimate member of the Jewish ruling elite who comes to Jesus, under the secrecy and cover of darkness, to speak with him. From the outset it is clear that Nicodemus recognizes that Jesus is not simply one of the prophets of old, for he addresses him as rabbi, a title used by Jesus' disciples only after they recognize him as the Christ - the anointed one. It is certainly not accidental that the Johannine author uses one of the most prominent men in Jewish society as an example of one who seeks to be transformed to Christ. If the Jewish leadership can see the correct path, then others should follow.
In his conversation with Jesus, Nicodemus is confused on what is necessary to be transformed. The symbolism of being born again of water and spirit is certainly an illusion for John's readers to Christian baptism, but for Nicodemus the confusion is purposeful for it allows Jesus to clearly state his teaching. Jesus, quite clearly, is speaking of the need to be transformed not in any physical way, but in heart and mind. For Nicodemus, the transformation is his understanding of the significance and truth of Jesus' message. In one of the most popular verses that many have memorized from scripture, Jesus succinctly states the basic message of the gospels, in truth the basic message of the New Testament: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but find eternal life" (3:16). For the new kingdom which Jesus inaugurates to be possible, there is a need for one to experience spiritual re--birth. If a person might fear seeking such a change or transformation in one's life, the individual needs only to realize that "God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (3:17).
Daisy Werthan needed to be converted - to be transformed. Her attitude toward the loss of her independence needed to be changed. But this did not happen overnight; rather the process she experienced was absolutely necessary for her to eventually be able to say, "Hoke, you are my best friend." Daisy's experience is one illustration of a reality for all - transformation takes time and shortcuts to its end product only lead to problems and disappointments.
The need to stay the course in our transformation can be illustrated in the world of science. One day, a student found a cocoon in the wild and brought it to the biology lab at school. The teacher placed the cocoon in an unused aquarium with a lamp shining on it to keep it warm. After one week a small opening was seen on the underside of the cocoon. The students in the class watched as the cocoon shook and suddenly small antennae emerged, followed by a head and some tiny feet. The students were impatient and wanted to see more. As time went by the insect's listless wings were uncovered, revealing beautiful colors that told all that this was a monarch butterfly. The insect wiggled and shook but could not free itself completely from the cocoon; it appeared to be stuck. Finally one rather impulsive student decided to help the butterfly out of its difficulty. He took some scissors and snipped the cocoon's rather restrictive opening, allowing the insect to free itself. The top half looked like a butterfly with droopy wings, but the bottom half which just emerged from the cocoon was malformed. The butterfly could not fly, but only managed to crawl around the bottom of the aquarium, dragging its wings and swollen body. Within a short time the butterfly died. The next day the biology teacher explained that the butterfly's struggle to free itself from the cocoon was absolutely necessary in order to force the fluid from the lower body into the wings. Without the struggle the wings never developed and the insect could not fly. The struggle was necessary to be transformed.
After realizing that transformation is necessary, and takes time, we must have the courage to ask - what needs transformation in our lives? For some the need is to be transformed in the way we view ourselves. One of the great problems of contemporary society is a lack of self--respect, self--love, and self--confidence. Too often today the world pushes us down, making us feel inadequate. We live in a very intolerant and unforgiving society that demands action, performance, and success. Not making the grade is unsatisfactory. We often lose heart and feel defeated. We might not possess the talent, academic potential, or physical stature or appearance of another, causing us to again think less of ourselves. Such a state of personal disrespect requires transformation.
We need to be able to look into a mirror and not only see, but fully believe, that the reflection we view is a child of God. We need to believe in ourselves and we can with the assistance of another. A good example of such transformation is found in the story of Dulcinea, one of the principal characters in the popular Broadway musical, Man of la Mancha. The audience learns that Don Quixote, the chief protagonist, lives with many illusions, most especially his idea that he is a knight errant who battles dragons in the form of windmills. At the end of the play as he lays dying, Don Quixote has at his side a prostitute, Aldonza, whom he has called throughout the play Dulcinea - Sweet One - much to the laughter of the local townsfolk. But Don Quixote has loved her in a way unlike she has ever experienced. When Quixote breathes his last Aldonza begins to sing "The Impossible Dream." As the echo of the song dies away, someone shouts to her, "Aldonza!" But she pulls away proudly and responds, "My name is Dulcinea." The crazy's knight's love had transformed her.
Transformation of our attitudes toward others is also needed by many. Sometimes we place people on the margins and fringes of society, as assuredly as others do to us. There are times, as well, that we place ourselves above others. We separate and differentiate between people - those who can help us and those who cannot, those we consider friends and those we do not, those who live on the proper side of the tracks and those who do not, those who have the correct skin color, or religion, and those who do not. We can create a destructive atmosphere in our relationships with others and not lift one finger. Our attitudes, words, and actions can lift people up or tear them down; it is all up to us!
Lent is a time to transform our personal habits. We need to heed the warnings and advice we have received with respect to personal health and have the courage to change to a more sane, healthier, and more productive lifestyle. We know what we need - to lose weight, stop smoking, cease certain activity - but we often balk. At times we are lazy or do not want to pay the price that the removal of a certain habit will cost.
All of us need to transform our faith practice; there is always more that can be done. We need to do a better job of eliminating sin and resisting temptation. We can make great strides toward the achievement of these goals through our daily prayer. Our conversation with God must be central to the life of all people of faith, yet too often the busy contemporary lifestyle we lead causes us to find and make excuses for not taking time to pray. Transformation means we make prayer a priority and make no excuses for our failures. We need to renew our baptismal commitment and take on with a renewed sense of purpose and fervor our relationship with God. The Pauline author reminds us vividly: "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself" (1 Timothy 2:11--13).
Transformation is, in essence, the process of turning the dirty laundry of our lives into something that is clean and useful. This idea is illustrated in an apocryphal but nonetheless instructive story of the famous British monarch Queen Victoria. One day her highness paid a visit to a paper mill on the outskirts of London. Without realizing who his distinguished visitor was, the foreman showed the Queen around the facility. She went into the rag sorting shop of the mill where workers sorted rags that were refuse from the city. Upon inquiring what was done with these seemingly worthless rags, she was informed that they would eventually become the finest white writing paper. After the Queen's departure the foreman was informed who the special visitor was. Some time later, the Queen received a package of the most delicate, pure white stationery, bearing her likeness for a watermark. Enclosed was a note that said the paper came from the dirty rags she had recently inspected.
Transformation takes courage, for if we do it well the personal discoveries may be revelatory: A man, returning from a weekend retreat reported to his neighbor, "I died this weekend." Puzzled the neighbor asked him what he meant. The man responded, "I went on a retreat not knowing what to expect. What I discovered is that I have been spending my whole life hiding from others behind a whole host of different masks. I realized that even my wife had not seen me as I truly am. I had been playing games with her, my children, and many others - never letting anyone know who I truly am. The worse thing I discovered, however, was that I really didn't know myself. I was not in touch with my feelings and who I really am. As this was being discovered this weekend, I died over and over again." He continued, "It was painful as a middle--aged man to discover that I did not know myself. I am convinced that one needs to go through the death experience in order to become the person Gods wishes us to be."
As our Lenten journey continues, let us look into our hearts, as Miss Daisy was forced to do, and ask the difficult question: "What needs to be transformed in my life?" Then, with the information we have secured, let us courageously go forth and seek new beginnings in attitude, personal conduct, and faith. Let us be transformed to Christ, the one who died to set us free and will one day bring us to eternal life.
