THE SOLEMNITY OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Feast Day: 6 August (Liturgical Color: Gold or White) Manifest on mountain height, shining in resplendent light, where disciples filled with awe thy transfigured glory saw. When from there thou leddest them steadfast to Jerusalem, cross and Easter Day attest God in man made manifest. - Hymn 135 (The Hymnal 1982) 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. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” - from the Gospel Reading for the Solemnity of Transfiguration, (RCL, NRSV) according to Luke (9:28-36) Today we celebrate the Lord’s Transfiguration, when his divinity shone out through his humanity. Jesus, on that occasion, rejected Peter’s suggestion that they remain on the mountain in that light. Instead he led them down to confront the gathering powers of darkness which would seek to extinguish the uncreated Light. It is difficult to forget that on this date humankind saw a different sort of light burst over the city of Hiroshima. That event reminds us that the power to destroy is still loose in the world. Yet in Christ we meet the power that overcomes the violence of our world, liberating all people to become who God created us to be, living reflections of God’s own glorious image and likeness. - (excerpt) from The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year by Michael W. Merriman. O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. - Collect for Transfiguration, August 6 (1979 BCP, p. 243) Revised Common Lectionary Eucharistic Readings for the Solemnity of Transfiguration: Old Testament: Exodus 34:29-35 Psalter: Psalm 99 or Psalm 99:5-9 New Testament: 2 Peter 1:13-21 Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia (Matthew 17:5) Holy Gospel: Luke 9:28-36
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 05:14:16 +0000
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