First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35
A reading from the book of Exodus
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with
the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the
skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When
Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and
they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and
all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward
all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that
the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his
face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him,
he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told
the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the
face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the
veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
The Word of the Lord.
Psalm: Psalm 99
The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the
earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let
them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
Mighty
King, lover of justice,
you
have established equity;
you
have executed justice
and
righteousness in Jacob.
Extol
the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
Moses
and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel
also was among those who called on his name.
They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
He
spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
they
kept his decrees,
and the
statutes that he gave them.
O Lord our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an
avenger of their wrongdoings.
Extol
the Lord our God,
and
worship at his holy mountain;
for the Lord our God is holy.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12—4:2
A reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians
Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not
like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from
gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds
were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old
covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set
aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over
their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now
the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord
as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from
one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this
ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that
one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the
open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone
in the sight of God
The Word of the Lord
Gospel: Luke 9:28-36 [37-43]
The Lord be with you. And
also with you.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke, in the ninth chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and
John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was
praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling
white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to
him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he
was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were
weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory
and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter
said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three
dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he
said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and
they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a
voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice
had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told
no one any of the things they had seen.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ!
Jesus took
with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to
pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and
his clothes became dazzling white.
·
It seems strange
to me to preach on this passage when the world is plunging into the horror of
war once again. I personally have never experienced war, although I know that many
in our congregation have. To be honest, I feel helpless. I cannot shield the children
or convince the invaders. I cannot bring food or supplies or peace to the
places of fighting. I can pray and pray that such praying might be enough.
·
Whatever the
case, the readings today speak or refer to “veils.” Moses covered his face
after meeting with God on Mt. Sinai or in the Tent of Meeting. Jesus is not
described as being veiled, however he is shown in a different way when he is at
prayer. He is “transfigured”, with a changed face and dazzling white clothing.
The presence of God is also veiled by a terrifying cloud with a voice that
speaks from within the cloud. Jesus also talks with two figures identified as
Moses and Elijah, the Law-giver and the quintessential prophet. In these two,
the whole is Scripture is marshalled toward the revelation of God in Jesus.
·
Peter, James, and
John are present for this amazing incident. Peter responds with an offer to
“set up shop” with three “dwellings” on the mountain and keep this whole thing
around forever. He’s cut short by the cloud that speaks to him. Of course, the
three are terrified; who of us wouldn’t be? They even keep their experience a
secret. (Matthew and Mark relate that Jesus told them to keep it a secret,
while Luke leaves them to decide.)
·
Secrets and
veiling and misunderstandings… all part of the experience of God. It makes me
wonder more than a little. Although we are privy to the secret of the three
disciples, we are just as veiled from what is really going on. We see it
through the words of the Gospels, but not with our own eyes.
·
May ancient
people believed that mountain-tops were the place where the heavens met the
earth. After all, they are the “high places.” We trust now that the presence of
God is everywhere. The difference is that Jesus is the mediator of grace and
the presence of God on earth. He is where heaven and earth meet. That meeting
continues through the Holy Spirit and we experience it in the Words of the
Scripture, in the Sacraments, and in the community of the Church. It might not
be so dramatic, but it is just as mysterious and just as real. The “veil”
remains and sometimes the light glows through. The mysterious voice from the
cloud tells us This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him! And so we can
through the mean of grace I spoke of a bit ago.
·
Scholars say the
Transfiguration is placed in the Gospels just before Jesus goes toward
Jerusalem for his crucifixion and resurrection, as a way to build up the
disciples. Our church puts this festival just before the season of Lent for the
same reason: to build up the believers and help carry them through the dry time
of Lent.
·
What we see in
this Transfiguration experience is that Jesus is the intersection of heaven and
earth, of this world and the next if you wish. We see that Jesus is both the
Tremendous Mystery and the familiar teacher at the same time. Above all, we too
– through the Scripture – hear the voice from the cloud – similar if not the
same as the one on Sinai – that gives us a simple direction for our lives as
disciples of Christ: This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!
Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Prayers of the Church:
No
matter how we see Jesus, in faith we offer our prayers for the world, the
church, and for all people according to their needs.
[Short pause]
God of mystery,
may we always hear your voice when you speak and let your words change our
lives. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of mystery, thank
you for the gift of our families, loved ones and friends. Keep them close to
you in every way. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of mystery, Thank
you for the gift of health in our bodies, minds, and spirits. Strengthen us and
strengthen all those who work daily for the health of others. Lord, in your
mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of mystery, even
if we want to build a dwelling for you, grant us the memory of your dwelling
within us and help our actions to reflect that. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of mystery,
grant peace to Ukraine and to Russia as well as all the troubled spots in our
world. Let justice and real peace prevail. Lord, in your mercy, Hear
our prayer.
God of mystery, bless
the homeless with shelter, the hungry with food, and the lonely with
companionship. Watch over all who must work outside and endure the cold. Lord,
in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of mystery,
look with favor on all who minister in the name of your Son. Bless our sisters
and brothers of St. Ansgar, London, and their pastor, Pastor David Wirt. Lord, in
your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of mystery, we
trust in your grace and mercy. Hear the prayers we keep in our hearts… * …
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of mystery, as
we stand before the mystery of death and eternal life, be with the family and
friends of Erna Reska, whom we once again entrust to your merciful care. Lord,
in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Into your merciful
hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your promise of mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
{*Rose Gotzmeister, Gail Mauer, Bill Ungar, Deb Kirschner}
A prayer from the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land
From
the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, we lift our prayers to you, O God, for
the people of Ukraine and Russia.
Preserve
the innocent from the violence of war.
Still
the hands of those who act without justice.
Guide
leaders into wisdom and compassion, for the sake of the people they serve.
Send
your Holy Spirit to comfort the fearful and strengthen those who work for peace
with justice.
In
the name of Jesus, our Savior who taught us the importance of justice and the
power of love, we pray. Amen.
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