1st Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12
Our
first reading is the story of the prophet Elijah’s ascent into heaven and the
testing and succession of his protégé, Elisha. The lead-up to Elijah’s
ascension is somewhat comical, showing the persistence of Elisha, and his
boldness in asking for a double share. The story makes Elijah the greatest of
Israel’s prophets—he does not die, but is bodily assumed. Because of this story, there was an
expectation in Israel that he would one-day return. The same was thought by some of Moses, hence
their appearance in our Gospel reading.
2:1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to
heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah 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. 3 The 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.” 4
Elijah 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. 5 The 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.” 6
Then 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. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also
went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the
Jordan. 8 Then 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. 9 When 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.” 10 He 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.” 11 As 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. 12 Elisha 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 Lord,
the God of gods, has spoken; *
he has called the earth
from the rising of the sun to
its setting.
2 Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
God reveals himself in
glory.
3 Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
before him there is a
consuming flame,
and round about him a
raging storm.
4 He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
to witness the judgment
of his people.
5 “Gather before me my loyal followers, *
those who have made a
covenant with me
and sealed it with
sacrifice.”
6 Let the heavens declare the rightness of his
cause; *
2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Two references to “the glory of Christ” make this reading a good choice
to pair with the story of the Transfiguration. Paul desires that the
Corinthians “pierce the veil” to find the glory shining in their hearts—the
glory of God as shone forth in Jesus Christ.
4:3 If our gospel is
veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4
In 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. 5 For
we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as
your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For
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
Reading: Mark 9:2-9
As throughout his Gospel, Mark
tells the story of Jesus’ transfiguration simply but vividly. “Such as no one
on earth could bleach them,” is a detail that is his alone among the Gospel
writers. The transfiguration culminates and affirms Jesus’ ministry. He is the
prophet both like Moses and like the great Elijah. But Jesus knows this moment is just for them
for now—it will not be understood correctly without his subsequent death and
resurrection. It is those events from
which his glory truly comes.
9:2 Six 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, 3
and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth
could bleach them. 4 And there
appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then 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.” 6 He did not know
what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then
a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my
Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly
when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As 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.
The
Scripture quotations (except for the psalm) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ
in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.
All rights reserved. The Psalm
translation is from The Book of Common
Prayer. Commentaries are by Epiphany
ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843, www.epiphanyesources.com , copyright
© 2018. All rights reserved. Permission
is given to copy for congregational use, with attribution.
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