Embedded Files
. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Epiphany Last Yr A
Latimore, Kelly. Transfiguration, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57114 [retrieved February 12, 2020]. Original source: https://kellylatimoreicons.com/contact/.
Published date 2/15/2023
Introduction
Introduction
There are many threads in this week’s appointed readings. One is the “shining” face of both Moses and Jesus. One is the communion of Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. One is the witness (and what they witnessed) of the disciples. One is the declaration that Jesus is God’s beloved Son and we should listen to what he says. I feel elevated by these readings, that is, lifted “higher and higher”. This is a marvelous place to be.
One of the sermons on this topic that I heard years back pointed out that having a "mountain-top" experience did lift us higher. It was almost as if we could reach out and touch heaven. The preacher went on to say that, regardless how exhilerated we felt, our job is in the world, not above it. I don't know about you, but the COVID-winter for many of us caused much the same problem; that is, the isolation began to be comfortable. It has almost become unnecessary to interact with others. But the purpose of the "mountain-top" experience is to support us for interaction in the world. So while it's easier to stay in pj's and watch the livestream, it is invaluable to be present. It is in "being present" that we can "reach out and touch heaven."
This is what we can expect when we “listen to Jesus”—not that the journey will be easy or without difficulty but we will achieve a higher plane. I choose that. Let's SHINE! together.
Share your thoughts.
Matthew 17:1-9
Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. . . . While he [Peter] was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” . . . And when they [disciples] looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
sermons4kids: “You and I have many wonderful experiences in our daily walk with Jesus. Others should see that we have the love of Jesus in our heart by seeing his reflection our bright shining faces!”
Scripture: February 19, 2023—Exodus 24:12-18 (image); Psalm 2 (image); Psalm 99 (image); 2 Peter 1:16-21 (image); Matthew 17:1-9 (image). A visual/audio journey.
Collect: O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: Why does Jesus instruct the disciples to keep quiet about what they had seen “until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead” (Matt. 17:9)?
Memory verse: 2 Peter 1:17-18: For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘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.
Hymn focus: "Shine, Jesus, Shine": From it's author Graham Kendrick—“I had been thinking for some time about the holiness of God, and how that as a community of believers and as individuals, His desire is for us to live continually in his presence. My longing for revival in the churches and spiritual awakening in the nation was growing, but also a recognition that we cannot stand in God’s presence without ‘clean hands and a pure heart.’ So I wrote the three verses and ‘road tested’ it in my home church. Though there was clearly merit to the song, it seemed incomplete, so as I was unable at the time to take it any further, I put it back in the file.
“Several months later I was asked to submit new songs for a conference song book, and as I reviewed this three-verse song, I realized that it needed a chorus. I remember standing in my music room with guitar slung round my neck trying different approaches. The line ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine’ came to mind, and within about half an hour I had finished the chorus, all but some ‘polishing.’
Ear Worm: “Abundant life” by Marty Haugen; “Swiftly pass the clouds of glory“, hymn text by Thomas Troeger; “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord“, sung by Maranatha Singers.
Eye Candy: “Transfiguration” from Jesus Mafa; “Movement, The Mountain” by David Driskell; “Transfiguration of Christ” by Earl Mott.
Transfiguration, Peter Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/Portfolio/transfiguration
Brain Food: “To lift from shadow“, poem by Andrew King; “Eyes Opened” by Bob Cornwall;
Reflection by Thomas H. Troeger
[God], transfigure our perception
With the purest light that shines,
And recast our life’s intentions
To the shape of Your designs,
Till we seek no other glory
Than what lies past Calvary’s hill
And our living and our dying
and our rising
by Your will.
Parables: “Howl’s moving castle” (2004), anime look at aging and other topics; “Transformers” (2007), sci-fi drama; “Doctor Strange” (2016), change from arrogance when injured; "Signs" (2000), about finding things that had been hidden; "Amelie" (2001), delightful French film about fanciful young woman
Some eye-candy:
“Beloved†by He Chi (included in commentary)
“Transfiguration†by Terrance McKillip (scroll down, 3rd on page)
“Transfiguration†by Giovanni Bellini
Brain food:
commentary “Back AWAY from the drawing board†by Peter Woods
commentary “Jesus transfigured†by Bryan Finlayson
An anonymous poem.
Oh! Christ is my Beloved,
I am forever His;
Nought from His love can sever,
This, even here, is bliss.
But soon I shall behold Him,
Where faith gives place to sight;
There dwell with God’s Beloved
In Heaven’s unclouded light.
Ear Worms:
Ear Worms:
“Jesus the Beloved†by Student Edge Worship
“Meditation music“, 3 hours of music while you meditate (or color Stations of the Cross)
“Christ upon the mountain peak“, organ only but with words to sing-along
Preparing for Lent: Here’s one activity for Lent you may wish to participate in. Set a bag to hold your “things”. Each day of Lent, find something that you no longer use and put it in the bag. Then during Holy week, give your bag of things to a local charity. And for the 2nd activity, participate in Lent Madness (Facebook page) or website. Lent Madness is a fun way to learn about the saints of our church. Each day you select one of two saints who you believe is more “worthy” to be a saint. Near Palm Sunday, one of the selected saints will earn the “golden halo”. And “you helped”!
For families: Study guide and activities (former guide), group activity, snack—see group activity; kid video
For children: See family guide/activities above (activities—one and two), bulletin; craft
For middlers: See family guide/activities above (activities—one and two); bulletin; craft
Coloring: Transfiguration; Matthew
For youth: In the epistle this week (2 Peter 1:16-21), Peter tells about this mountaintop experience of seeing Jesus transfigured and encountering his full glory and majesty that is recorded in the gospel. What good news to share! How do we today listen to Jesus? How do we experience glimpses of transfiguration, of seeing God at work in our world—restoring, transforming, loving—in and through both ordinary and extraordinary experiences and people?
Excerpted from So It Is website.
If you wish, share your thoughts.
activities
“Climb up sunshine mountainâ€, kids rockin’ video
Using stick figures, draw 4 people on a mountain top; be creative.
FOR YOUNGER CHILD:
activities, and another
bulletin game
FOR OLDER CHILD:
activities, and another
bulletin games
On this final Sunday before Lent, we always have as our Gospel reading the account of Jesus’ transfiguration. This event is chosen primarily because it marks the turning point in the story of Jesus. It was on this occasion that Jesus clearly foretold his approaching death and resurrection. Thus we are pointed in our Lenten pilgrimage toward the cross and Easter.
The Old Testament reading records Moses’ meeting with God on Mt. Sinai in an event like the transfiguration. His forty days and nights with God on the mountain are a prefiguring of our time with God in Lent.
The second reading records the memory of the transfiguration event as a sign that the writer’s message is truth, being an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry. We are also witnesses as God transforms us into the likeness of Christ.
Today the Church uses the Easter word “Alleluia” for the last time until the resurrection is proclaimed at the Great Vigil of Easter. In many churches, the ancient “farewell to Alleluia” hymn (Alleluia, song of gladness, Hymn 122 or 123, The Hymnal 1982) is sung at the conclusion of the service today. “Alleluia” is omitted from the liturgy throughout Lent in order that its restoration at Easter will underscore our experience of renewal on that day.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2009 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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