Transfiguration Sunday

 

 

3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

 

PastedGraphic-1.png

The Light of the World

HUNT, William Holman

1853-1854

Keble College Chapel

Painting

Oxford

United Kingdom

 

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20240207934439288&code=act&RC=54233&Row=25

 

 

“The Light of the World (1853–54) is an allegorical painting by William Holman Hunt representing the figure of Jesus preparing to knock on an overgrown and long-unopened door, illustrating Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me". According to Hunt: "I painted the picture with what I thought, unworthy though I was, to be by Divine command, and not simply as a good subject." The door in the painting has no handle, and can therefore only be opened from the inside, representing "the obstinately shut mind". Hunt, 50 years after painting it, felt he had to explain the symbolism.[3]The original, painted at night in a makeshift hut at Worcester Park Farm in Surrey, is now in a side room off the large chapel at Keble College, Oxford.[4] Toward the end of his life, Hunt painted a life-size version, which was hung in St Paul's Cathedral, London after a world tour where the picture drew large crowds.This painting inspired much popular devotion in the late Victorian period and inspired several musical works, including Arthur Sullivan's 1873 oratorio The Light of the World." -- from Wikipedia.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Light_of_the_World_(painting)

 

 

 

The measure of who we are

is what we do with what we have.

~ the NFL’s Vince Lombardi 

ad for Super Bowl LV

 

 

 

We will cross this divide.

Our light has always found its way

through the darkness,

and there’s hope on the road up ahead.

~ Bruce Springsteen

“The Middle”

Super Bowl LV

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_2963.jpeg

Tim Clancy gave the Minute for Mission at Rotary.

Tim manages Evergreen’s Homeless Shelter housed in our church where they get a hot meal, breakfast, and sack lunch.  50% (I think)  of last year’s guests now have permanent housing.   They average about 10 or 12 guests each night.

 

Design Center

Artists’ Reception

(I only included the artists I know)

IMG_2991.jpeg

Laura Mehmert

 

IMG_2995.jpeg

Ann Simpson holding one of her sculptures

 

IMG_2996.jpeg

Janet Rundquist

 

IMG_2999.jpeg

Susie Drucker

 

IMG_3005.jpeg

Jane Christie

 

IMG_3008.jpeg

Melanie Warsinski Nuchols

 

 

IMG_3012.jpeg

Tricia Bass

 

 

IMG_3018.jpeg

Margaretta and Brewster Caesar

 

 

 

 

For better it is to make a beginning 

of that which may lead to something,

than to engage in a perpetual struggle

and pursuit in courses

which have no exit.

~ Francis Bacon

 

 

 

 

 

February 11, 2024  Transfiguration of the Lord Year B

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

 

2Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead

Mark 9:2-9

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

image.png

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

 

image009.jpg

 

 

 

Screenshot 2024-02-10 at 2.32.20 PM.pnghttps://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoon?searchID=CS343082

 

Ash Wednesday 2024 - Church of the Redeemer.jpeg

 

 

 

Super Bowl LVIII 2024: When and Where Is the Game?.jpeg

 

 

 

 

 

image011.jpg

 

Lectionary

2 Kings 2:1–12 

Psalm 50:1–6

2 Corinthians 4:3–6 

Mark 9:2–9

 

Summary

The Transfiguration is a dazzling display of Christ’s power and authority, but the preacher ought not leave it at that. This is one instance where the details, rather than the big picture, provide the most direct road to an application that makes the passage matter to the congregation.

First, it is significant that Moses and Elijah are the two Old Testament figures who appear there. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah the Prophets. On the mountain of the New Covenant, the fullness of the Jewish tradition acknowledges Christ as its fulfillment, while the Apostles who will lead Christ’s church look on. Perhaps when Peter recommended building three tabernacles to receive the glory there, he was not aware that it was the three of them who would be the tabernacles to take that glory into the world! 

Second, this is an opportunity for the preacher to remind the congregation that the entire Bible is about Jesus, including the Old Testament. It is neither academically irresponsible nor culturally insensitive to hold this. It is simply taking the Gospels at their word. Doing so illuminates the Old Testament and breaks down any hostility between the Old Law and the New, and between Israel and the church for who could divide this heavenly court?

Other potential roads to follow up on are the revelation of the Trinity in the voice of the Father, the Spirit in the cloud, and the Son glorified. The voice of the Father calls back to Jesus’ baptism.

https://www.preachingtoday.com/lectionary/

 

 

THE WORD:

Today's Gospel is Mark’s account of the transfiguration of Jesus.  In the event witnessed by Peter, James and John on the mountain, the promise of the first covenant (Moses the great law giver and Elijah the great prophet) converges with the fulfillment of the new covenant (Jesus the Messiah).

Throughout Israel's history, God revealed his presence to Israel in the form of a cloud (for example, the column of cloud that led the Israelites in the desert during the Exodus – Exodus 15).  On the mountain of the transfiguration, God again speaks in the form of a cloud, claiming the transfigured Jesus as his own Son.

Returning down the mountain, Jesus urges the three not to tell of what they had seen, realizing that their vision would confirm the popular misconception of an all-powerful, avenging Messiah.  The mission of Jesus the Messiah means the cross and resurrection, concepts Peter and the others still do not grasp.

HOMILY POINTS:                                      

What the disciples saw in Jesus on the mountain was the divinity – the very life and love of God – that dwelled within him.  That love of God lives within each one of us, as well, calling us beyond our own needs, wants and interests.  

Love that calls us beyond ourselves is transforming.  In the transforming love of Christ the Messiah-Servant, we can “transfigure” despair into hope, sadness into joy, anguish into healing, estrangement into community.

The Jesus of the Gospel comes with a heavy price: the glorious Christ of the Transfiguration will soon become the Crucified Christ of Good Friday.  Accepting the God of blessing is easy, but when that God becomes the God of suffering who asks us to give readily and humbly to others and to forgive one another without limit or condition, then we begin to insulate ourselves from the relationship God invites us to embrace.  In risking the pain and demands of loving one another as Christ has loved us, the divinity we recognize in the Jesus of the Transfiguration becomes for us the eternal life of the Jesus of Easter.

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#feb11b

 

 

First Reading 2 Kings 2:1-12

1Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”

4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

6Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, ”As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Psalm 50:1-6

1   The mighty one, God the LORD, 
          speaks and summons the earth 
          from the rising of the sun to its setting. 
2   Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, 
          God shines forth.

3   Our God comes and does not keep silence, 
          before him is a devouring fire, 
          and a mighty tempest all around him. 
4   He calls to the heavens above 
          and to the earth, that he may judge his people: 
5   “Gather to me my faithful ones, 
          who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” 
6   The heavens declare his righteousness, 
          for God himself is judge.                                  Selah

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Gospel Mark 9:2-9

2Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

9As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead