Category Archives: Transfiguration

Last Epiphany B/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Last Epiphany B/Transfiguration

Transfiguration of Jesus

Transfiguration of Jesus (c.1437-1446), fresco by Fra Angelico (c.1395-1455). Museum of San Marco, Florence, Italy. (Click image to enlarge.)

First Reading: Kings 2:1-12

As the season after the Epiphany comes to its end on Sunday, we see the light of God revealed in shining glory. In the Gospel we will hear Mark’s account of the Transfiguration of Christ, the culmination of the series of epiphanies that have revealed Jesus as the Son of God. In those verses we will see a glowing Jesus meet the patriarchs Elijah and Moses on a mountaintop. Our first reading from the Second Book of Kings sets the stage with the ancient story of Elijah, who was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire led by horses of fire.

Psalm: Psalm 50:1-6

We hear only the first six verses of Psalm 50, but even this snippet gives us a good sense of its resounding worship and praise. The Psalmist calls out to the people who have joined in covenant to come together in worship: Come near and hear the God of gods speak, revealed in glory, calling the the people of the earth together from sunrise to sunset. God will speak and not keep silence, we hear. God stands before a consuming flame, surrounded by a raging storm, calling the heavens and the earth to witness God’s judgment.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

God, who brought light into the world, shows us the glory of God’s image in Christ. In his second letter to the early Christian community in Corinth, Paul tells his flock that, because they believe, they see the light which those who do not believe can not see. For those who don’t believe, the light is veiled by worldy concerns, Paul writes. As Christians we are called to proclaim Jesus, not ourselves, Paul declares. We are to serve others humbly in service for Jesus’s sake.

Gospel: Mark 9:2-9

Just a few short weeks ago at the beginning of the Epiphany season we saw John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan. Now on the last Sunday of Epiphany we come to the Transfiguration, and Jesus is revealed as Messiah. With his friends Peter, James, and John looking on in awed amazement, Jesus’s clothes suddenly glow an unearthly dazzling white as he meets the patriarchs Elijah and Moses. Now God’s voice rings out again, as it had at his baptism: “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him.”

Last Epiphany A/Transfiguration

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Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for Feb. 19, 2023 (Last Epiphany A/Transfiguration)

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18

The gradual revelation of Jesus as Messiah, which began last month with his baptism by John in the Jordan, draws to a close as Transfiguration Sunday concludes the season of Epiphany.

The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration (1308-1311), tempera painting on wood altarpiece by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255=1319). National Gallery of London. (Click image to enlarge)

Midway between Christmas and Easter, we will now turn toward the penitential path of Lent. Sunday’s readings show us the awe and fear of humans encountering the divine. Our first reading from Exodus describes Moses going up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from a fearsome God cloaked in clouds and fire. This scene is a surprising contrast with the verses that came just before, in which Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the people apparently dine and drink with a more accessible divine being.

Psalm: Psalm 2

Earthly kings may have wielded vast temporal power in biblical times, but even they must submit with fear and trembling to the mightiness of God, King of Kings. So sings the Psalmist in Psalm 2. Those who would seek to break away from God’s power and that of God’s anointed, the Messiah, will earn only divine derision and terrifying rage. God’s anointed, however, will be set on the holy hill of Zion – site of the temple. Then these verses of anger and divine threats turn to a note of promise: Happy are all who take refuge in God.

Alternative Psalm: Psalm 99

In verses that hark back to Moses and Aaron following God’s sign through the desert and receiving God’s law, this hymn of praise shows us an image of God as a powerful king, before whom the people tremble and even the earth shakes. But this is a fair God, who may have punished the people when they were evil, but who also answered their prayers and rewarded them. This is a forgiving and kind God who provides equity, justice and righteousness.

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Here’s something to know about the New Testament’s Letters of Peter: The Apostle Peter didn’t write either of them, and this one was probably written 100 years or more after the Crucifixion, long after Peter’s death. Still, it opens a window into the second-century church, when believers were trying to understand why Jesus had not returned as soon as they had hoped and prayed. All that they have heard about Jesus is true, the letter insists. Speaking in the first person as Peter, it reminds them that Peter himself had been present at the Transfiguration. Trust in God, it urges, and wait for the dawn and the morning star.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased.” In almost identical words, we heard the voice of God coming from above to declare Jesus his beloved Son at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan at the beginning of Epiphany. Now we hear it again at the end of Epiphany in the Transfiguration. We see Jesus meeting Old Testament prophets on a mountaintop, glowing in dazzling light, revealed to the apostles Peter, James and John for the first time as both human and divine. The three, witnessing all this, are terrified to hear the voice of God, but Jesus reassures them with a loving touch and, for the first time, speaks of his coming resurrection.

Last Epiphany C/Transfiguration

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First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

Radiant light shines through Sunday’s readings for the Feast of the Transfiguration, and Moses appears in all four of them.

Transfiguration of Christ

Transfiguration of Christ (c.1487), oil painting on panel by Giovanni Bellini (c.1430-1516).
National Museum of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy. (Click image to enlarge.)

Take a closer look, and find a consistent emphasis on God’s covenant with the people to follow God’s commandments to love God and our neighbors. In the first reading, we see Moses bringing the commandments down the mountain, his face transfigured in light by his encounter with the Holy One.

Psalm: Psalm 99

This mighty ancient hymn envisions God as a powerful king receiving loud chants of praise. In the temple in Jerusalem, images of two cherubim – scary angels depicted as lions with wings and human faces – were placed atop the Ark of the Covenant to serve as God’s throne. The Psalmist understands God as no petty tyrant but a mighty ruler who demands justice, holding the people to their covenant call to love their neighbors and care for the widow, the orphan and the stranger in our midst.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

In his second known letter to his congregation at Corinth, Paul recalls the Exodus story about Moses coming down the mountain with his face shining. Invoking the the image of the veil that Moses used to conceal his transcendent glow, Paul turns it around to express the idea that Jesus “unveils” God’s covenant in all its shining glory. For those who believer in Christ, Paul says, the veil is removed and they can see the image of God as if reflected in a mirror by the Holy Spirit. Be truthful, Paul urges the believers in Corinth. Do not hide behind a veil, but be steadfast and bold.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a]

Jesus and his apostles Peter, John and James go up on the mountain to pray. Suddenly Elijah and Moses join him, and Jesus’ face and clothing shine in dazzling light. The three, the Gospel says, were talking about Jesus’ departure (or exodus in the perhaps significant Greek original), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Then a cloud forms around them and God’s voice is heard, repeating the words that God spoke from a cloud at Jesus’ baptism in the Gospel for the first Sunday of Epiphany: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Jesus and the terrified apostles come down from mountain, and life returns to what is normal for Jesus: He astounds the crowd by casting out a child’s angry demon.

Last Epiphany B/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Feb. 14, 2021

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Our Gospels in the season after the Epiphany follow Jesus through the early years of his public ministry as told by John and Mark, gradually unveiling his status as leader, teacher, and healer.

The Transfiguration of Christ

The Transfiguration of Christ (1605), oil painting on canvas by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy, France. (Click image to enlarge.)

This week we conclude this rather brief journey from Christmastide to Lent with the revelation of Jesus as prophet and messiah. Sunday’s readings glow with the light of God revealed in shining glory: Elijah’s fiery chariot; the rising sun and consuming flame of God’s justice; God’s light to the world, and finally the Transfiguration of Jesus with the patriarchs Elijah and Moses on a mountain top. Our first reading tells the ancient story of Elijah taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot while Elisha, his young successor, looks on in awe.

Psalm: Psalm 50:1-6

This week we read only a portion of Psalm 50, about one-fourth of its 23 verses. But it is a memorable passage, a resounding hymn of worship and praise, calling the people who have joined in covenant to come together in worship. Come near, the Psalmist shouts, and hear the God of gods speak, revealed in glory, calling the earth together from sunrise to sunset. God will speak and not keep silence, we sing, standing before a consuming flame while surrounded by a raging storm, calling the heavens and the earth to witness God’s judgment.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

God brought light into the world, and God shows us the glory of God’s image in Christ. Because they believe, Paul tells the people of Corinth in his second letter to them, they can see the light that those who do not believe do not see. For those who do not believe, he continues, that light is veiled by worldly concerns. Christians are called to proclaim Jesus, not ourselves, Paul declares. We are to serve others humbly for Jesus’ sake.

Gospel: Mark 9:2-9

On the first Sunday of Epiphany, we watched John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan, where Jesus heard God’s voice saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Now Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a mountain top, where Jesus is joined by Moses, the giver of the law, and Elijah, who was transported into heaven to await the arrival of the Messiah. Jesus’ face and garments glow in a scene reminiscent of Moses receiving God’s commandments as his face glowed on another mountain. Jesus is revealed as Messiah as his friends look on in awe, and God’s voice rings out again with the same refrain: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Last Epiphany A/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Feb. 23, 2020

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18

Significant things happen on mountain tops, where earth and heaven come close together.

The Transfiguration of Christ

The Transfiguration of Christ (c.1480), oil painting on panel by Giovanni Bellini (d.1516), Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy. (Click image to enlarge.)

On Transfiguration Sunday, roughly midway between Christmas and Easter, we come to the mountain top. As we turn from the incarnate light of Epiphany toward the penitential pathway of Lent, our readings show us the awe and fear of humans encountering the divine. In the first reading we see Moses going up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from a mighty God cloaked in clouds and fire. In the verses that came just before this reading, though, Aaron and the other leaders dined and drank with a much more accessible divine being. Humanity continues to wrestle with the contrasting ideas of an intimate God who knows our deepest thoughts, and a transcendent God who surpasses human understanding.

Psalm: Psalm 2

This Messianic hymn of praise envisions God as a mighty king, and more: King of Kings, to whom earthly kings must submit with fear and trembling. Those who seek to break away from God’s power and that of God’s anointed, the Messiah, will earn only divine derision and terrifying rage, the Psalmist sings. Such actions have consequences. But when God’s anointed is set on the holy hill of Zion, the temple, the psalm concludes, happy are all who take refuge in God.

Alternative Psalm: Psalm 99

This hymn of praise offered as an alternate reading to Psalm 2 also envisions God as a mighty king, at whose appearance the people tremble and the earth shakes. Yet, recalling that Moses and Aaron received God’s law and teaching, it also shows us a forgiving and kind God, a doer of justice, equity and righteousness. It mirrors the Exodus reading in showing a God of both distant might and present love.

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Modern bible scholars generally accept that this letter, perhaps the last written in the New Testament, is not the work of Simon Peter, the apostle. It was almost certainly written in Peter’s name by a leader in the early church a century or more after the Crucifixion. Still, it opens a window into the thinking of the second-century church, when believers were trying to understand why Jesus had not returned as soon as had been expected. Everything they have heard about Jesus is true, the letter reassures them, speaking as if in Peter’s own voice: Peter himself was present at the Transfiguration. Trust in God and wait for the dawn and the morning star.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Using images that recall Moses on the mountain, in words that echo God’s approving words at Jesus’s baptism in the Jordan, Matthew’s account shows us Jesus with the ancient prophets Moses and Elijah. Jesus is transfigured, glowing in dazzling light, revealed as both human and divine. It’s no wonder that Peter, James and John were terrified to hear the voice of God, but Jesus reassures them with a loving touch. Then, for the first time in this Gospel, Jesus speaks of his coming resurrection.

Last Epiphany C/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for March 3, 2019

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

Through the season of Epiphany, nine weeks long this year, we have followed along in the Gospels as Jesus became revealed to his followers as the Messiah.

The Transfiguration of Christ

The Transfiguration of Christ (1605), oil painting on canvas by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Musee de Beaux Arts of Nancy, France. (Click image to enlarge.)

From the visit of the three wise men through his baptism, his first miracle, and the beginning of his public ministry, we conclude on Sunday with his dramatic revelation on the mountain top, clothed in light, joined by prophets and the voice of God ringing from the clouds. Indeed, radiant light appears throughout Sunday’s readings, as does the prophet Moses who received God’s commandments on Mount Sinai. In the first reading we remember Moses coming down from the mountain, his own face transfigured in light by his encounter with the Holy One.

Psalm: Psalm 99

This ancient hymn portrays God as a powerful king receiving loud chants of praise. In the temple in Jerusalem, two cherubim – fierce angels appearing as lions with wings and human faces – were placed atop the Ark of the Covenant to serve as God’s throne. Our God is no petty tyrant but a mighty ruler who expects justice and provides equity for the righteous. God speaks out of clouds and fire, demanding justice for all, dealing out punishment when it’s needed, but ultimately forgiving all.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12 – 4:2

In this second recorded letter to the people of Corinth, Paul recalls the Exodus reading about Moses coming down the mountain with his shining face covered by a veil to protect the people from its unearthly glow. Now Paul takes that image and turns it around to express the idea that Jesus unveils God’s new covenant through Christ in all its shining glory. God’s transforming light can inspire the people to take the message of the Gospels out to all the world.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36, 37-43a

As we come to the Transfiguration Gospel through the prior readings, suddenly we see it anew. Peter, John and James, mouths dropping in awe, see Jesus with Moses and Elijah, but now Jesus, not Moses, is the shining one, his face and clothing aglow as he is transfigured in God’s light and voice. God’s voice declares Jesus his son and chosen One. “Listen to him,” booms the divine voice, repeating the words that God spoke from a cloud in Jesus’ baptism: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Jesus and the apostles come down the mountain, and life returns to what is “normal” for Jesus: He astounds the crowd by casting out a child’s particularly angry demon.

Last Epiphany B/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Feb. 11, 2018

Transfiguration of Jesus

Transfiguration of Jesus (1800s), oil painting by Carl Bloch (1834-1890). (Click image to enlarge)

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Elijah’s fiery chariot. The rising sun and consuming flame of God’s justice. God’s light to the world. The Transfiguration of Christ! This week’s readings glow with the light of God revealed in shining glory. Throughout Epiphany we have found the light of God shining in the darkness. In Sunday’s first reading, we hear the ancient story of Elijah taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot. We stand with Elisha, his young successor who hopes to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, looking on in mourning and awe.

Psalm: Psalm 50:1-6

Our short Psalm passage, a resounding hymn of worship and praise, calls the people who have joined in Covenant to come together in worship. Come near, the Psalmist shouts, and hear the God of gods speak, revealed in glory, calling the earth together from sunrise to sunset. God will speak and not keep silence, standing before a consuming flame and surrounded by a raging storm, calling the heavens and the earth to witness God’s judgment.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

God brought light into the world, and God shows us the glory of God’s image in Christ. In his second letter to the people in Corinth, Paul tells them that because they believe, they see the light which those who do not believe do not see. For those who don’t believe, the light is veiled by worldy concerns. Christians are called to proclaim Jesus, not ourselves, Paul declares. We are to serve others humbly in service for Jesus’ sake.

Gospel: Mark 9:2-9

The season after Epiphany ends with the Transfiguration. Jesus, his clothes suddenly glowing an unearthly dazzling white, meets the patriarchs Elijah and Moses on a mountain top while his friends Peter, James, and John look on in awe. Remember when we saw John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan on the first Sunday of Epiphany, and Jesus heard God’s voice saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased”? Now Jesus is revealed as Messiah on the mountain top as God’s voice rings out again: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Last Epiphany A/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Feb. 26, 2017

The Transfiguration, by Raphael (1516–20). Tempera on wood, Pinacoteca Vaticana, Vatican City.

The Transfiguration, by Raphael (1516–20). Tempera on wood, Pinacoteca Vaticana, Vatican City.

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18

Significant things happen on mountaintops, where earth and heaven come close together. As we reach the end of Epiphany and turn toward Lent, midway between Christmas and Easter, we see Moses, then Jesus and three chosen apostles, encountering God in high, mysterious places. In our first reading, Moses goes up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from a mighty God cloaked in clouds and fire. Turn back a page, though, and we discover a more approachable creator in a sapphire heaven, joining Moses, Aaron and 72 elders in table hospitality! Scripture often shows us both an intimate God who knows us deeply, and a transcendent God who is far beyond our understanding.

Psalm 2

This Messianic Psalm of praise presents God as a mighty king, and more: King of Kings, to whom earthly kings must submit with fear and trembling. Those who seek to break away from God’s power and that of God’s anointed, the Messiah, will earn only divine derision and terrifying rage, for such actions have consequences. But God’s anointed is set on the holy hill of Zion, the temple; and this Psalm of anger and divine threats ends at last on a note of promise: Happy are all who take refuge in God.

Alternative Psalm: Psalm 99

In verses that hark back to Moses and Aaron following God’s sign through the desert and receiving God’s law, this hymn of praise shows us an image of God as a powerful king before whom the people tremble and even the earth shakes. But this is a fair God, who may have punished the people when they were evil, but who also answered their prayers and rewarded them. This is a forgiving and kind God who provides equity, justice and righteousness.

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Modern bible scholars generally accept that this letter, one of the latest in the New Testament, was not written by Simon Peter, the apostle, but by a church leader in Peter’s name a century or more after the Crucifixion. Still, it opens a window into the second-century church, when believers were trying to understand why Jesus had not returned as soon as had been expected. All that they have heard about Jesus is true, the letter insists. Recalling that Peter himself had been present at the Transfiguration, it reminds us to trust in God and wait for the dawn and the morning star.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased.” In almost identical words, we heard the voice of God coming from above to declare Jesus his beloved Son, at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan at the beginning of Epiphany. Now we hear it again at the end of Epiphany in the Transfiguration. We see Jesus meeting Old Testament prophets on a mountaintop, glowing in dazzling light, revealed to the apostles Peter, James and John for the first time as both human and divine. The three, witnessing all this, were terrified to hear the voice of God, but Jesus reassured them with a loving touch and, for the first time, speaks of his coming resurrection.

Last Epiphany C/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Feb. 7, 2016

Moses with the Law (1818) , 19th century painting by Moritz Oppenheim

Moses with the Law (1818) , 19th century painting by Moritz Oppenheim

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

We mark the last Sunday of Epiphany by remembering the Transfiguration of Jesus. The prophet Moses appears in every reading, and so does the idea of the brilliant light of God’s glory. Today’s Gospel will show us Jesus transfigured with the prophets on the mountaintop; but first we remember Moses coming down from the mountain, his own face transfigured in light by his encounter with the Holy One.

Psalm 99

Imagine the ancient Temple in Jerusalem ringing with the sound of choirs singing this Psalm to celebrate God as a mighty king? “Moses and Aaron were among the priests” of God, the Holy One of Israel. God is worshiped not as an earthly king but a powerful ruler who speaks out of clouds and fire, demanding justice for all, dealing out punishment when it’s needed, but ultimately forgiving all.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 


Paul reminds the people of Corinth about Moses’ face shining in the light of God’s glory. Then he turns the image around to make a new point: Moses had to veil his face to protect the people from more glory than they could handle. But through the new covenant that Jesus brings, the veil is set aside, and God’s full glory is unveiled for us directly. We, then are called to share that light in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to the world.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a]

Jesus prays on the mountain, and suddenly Moses and Elijah join him, and Jesus’ face and clothing glow in God’s light. The apostles are amazed at first. But then, like the people’s reaction to God’s voice when Moses went up Mount Sinai, they are terrified when a cloud forms around them all and God’s voice is heard. Again we hear the words that God spoke from a cloud at Jesus’ baptism in the Gospel for the first Sunday of Epiphany: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Jesus and the apostles come down the mountain, and life returns to what is “normal” for Jesus: He astounds the crowd by casting out a child’s particularly angry demon.

Last Epiphany B/Transfiguration

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Feb. 15, 2015

Elijah's fiery ascent. Russian Orthodox icon.

Elijah’s fiery ascent. Russian Orthodox icon.

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12


This is Transfiguration Sunday, concluding our short Epiphany journey from Christmastide to Lent. We have followed Mark’s account of Jesus, from the wise men’s homage to his baptism by John and his early ministry. Today Epiphany ends as a glowing Jesus meets the patriarchs Elijah and Moses on a mountain top. Our first reading tells the ancient story of Elijah taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot while Elisha, his young successor, looks on in awe.

Psalm: Psalm 50:1-6

From Elijah’s fiery chariot to the brilliant rising sun and consuming flame of God’s justice in today’s Psalm, our readings glow with the light of God revealed in shining glory. Throughout Epiphany we find the light of God shining in the darkness.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

God brought light into the world, and God shows us the glory of God’s image in Christ, Paul reminds the people in his second letter to the church in Corinth. Because we believe, we see the light that is denied to those who do not believe, says Paul. We are called to proclaim Jesus, not ourselves, while we serve others humbly in service for Jesus’ sake.

Gospel: Mark 9:2-9

On the first Sunday of Epiphany, we watched John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan, and Jesus heard God’s voice saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Now Jesus is transfigured atop a holy mountain with Moses, the giver of the law, and Elijah, who was transported into heaven to await the arrival of God’s Kingdom and the Messiah. Jesus’ face and garments glow in a scene that recalls Moses receiving God’s commandments atop another mountain. Jesus is revealed as Messiah as his friends Peter, James, and John look on in awe, and God’s voice rings out again: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”