The Last Sunday After the Epiphany
Transfiguration Sunday
THE 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.
OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 34:29-35
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with
the two tab lets 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.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
PSALM Psalm 99
1 The Lord is King; let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 “O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his
Name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 “O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds.”
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
EPISTLE 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
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.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a) People: Glory to You Lord Christ
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. [On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great
crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you
to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at
once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and
will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could
not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much
longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he
was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus
rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
And all were astounded at the greatness of God.]
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ