Lectionary for the second Sunday in Lent.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14
Collect. Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves. Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Philippians 3:17 to 4:1. There is always heartbreak when someone you love goes off the rails or chooses a path that leads them towards danger. Paul is feeling that heartbreak as he pens this passage to the church at Philippi. Through his pain he draws their attention to the need to live a life that is worthy of someone who is following Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Previously in his letter Paul has urged the Philippians to work out their salvation with “fear and trembling” (Phil. 2v12) He is not asking them to doubt their salvation but to grow in their understanding of what God’s salvation means for them. He reminds them along with the warning, that God is at work in them, enabling them to fulfil His will! Now he is using a practical example to encourage them to take careful notice of the way they live out their Christian lives. Paul is reminding them that every day there are challenges which can begin to draw us away from trust in Jesus the Saviour. Becoming a Christian is like a three stage plan, namely, repent, believe and be baptised. (There is much we could say about these three issues but we will rush on quickly). The emphasis that Paul is making is that the new life we live following conversion is to be a Christ like life; one that honours Jesus. He reminds the Christians that our citizenship into God’s Kingdom is securely kept with God; a place where no rust or moth can destroy it: each one of us can rest assured that our citizenship is perfectly secure. However that statement of security has a future component because our citizenship is vested in Jesus Christ and Paul says we are waiting for Jesus to bring our authority of citizenship with him. At the same time God is transforming our aging and decaying bodies into bodies like the glorious body that the resurrected Jesus now has! (Isn’t that a stunning thought!) A glorious body equipped to live life in the new creation that God is preparing. All that is in the future and in the meantime Paul is urging the believers to stand firm in the things of the Lord. We are to live our lives in anticipation of what is to come and while we wait we live in the way that we will live in God’s New Creation, with love and kindness, forgiveness and integrity, always trusting in what Jesus Christ has done. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16.
Prayer. Gracious God With trepidation I come into your presence for you know the wanderings of my mind but my heart is set on you. I come trusting in your mercy through all generations. All grace, majesty and authority belong to you and from you come all the blessings that this life affords. As I go through this day guide me that I will be your true disciples. Grant me the wisdom I need to live this day honouring your name. Grant to me the patience I lack as I mingle with others. Give me the courage to live by your commands and love all those I will meet today. Above all may the witness I give honour you and lift high the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name I offer my petitions to you. Amen.
Reading. Luke 9:28-36. You will remember that a few Sundays ago we looked at the passage that we read today, the Transfiguration, it is worth revisiting. In this carefully crafted passage Luke draws three things neatly together. Firstly there is the humanity and the divinity of Jesus. Though Luke doesn’t use the word transfiguration Matthew and Mark in their record of the event do and that word signals that Jesus was changed from the inside. What was inside was being revealed. This begins to answer the question in the gospels often pose; “Who is this?” Here that question is answered!
Then Luke goes on to describe the strongest affirmation of God’s approval; “This is my chosen and beloved Son – listen to him!” The Power of the God-head is vested in him. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Mt 28:18. All the authority from God in God and now presented before the three chosen disciples not as an imagined dream but in reality! It reminds me of the hymn from Wesley: “Our God contracted to a span; incomprehensively made man” (T.i.S. 305). It is hard for our human minds to grasp and yet Jesus is the well beloved Son who is fully human and also fully divine! Finally Luke describes the meeting with Moses and Elijah. Moses was revered in Israel as the great leader and law giver. We often have a negative attitude to “the Law” and yet for the Jews it was loved for it taught them how to be in relationship with their Creator God. Similarly Elijah was the herald of the Messiah, destined to announce the great era of restoration. The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Jeremiah 33:14. In Luke’s description this threesome of Jesus, Moses and Elijah, represents the fulfilment of the prophetic promises.
“For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:18–20.. Jesus sums up all that God has promised throughout the whole history of Israel. He went up the mountain to pray and as he prayed the disciples saw suddenly that the glory of God was fully in Jesus Christ. Here was an epiphany like no other, the Messiah fully human and yet fully God. This was the promised Messiah bringing to fulfilment the great promises of God. Luke adds that they didn’t speak of this, while in Matthew and Mark they are reminded to speak only after the resurrection. Only after the resurrection did the disciples begin to understand what this transfiguration meant and because they understood they were equipped to declare to the world that through Jesus Christ, God had begun a New Creation. A new creation in which peace and justice would be available to all:: where death would be swept away and pain and suffering would be at an end: and where God would be the only authority.
Prayer. Lord God we call on you the Ancient of Days, for before time began you were the one in whom life and love resided. In your hands you hold the future and all that is to come. In Jesus you have brought into our human lives, light and love, peace and joy. So we praise you and give all thanks to you. Through your grace you have rescued us from sin and death and through Jesus brought into being a New Creation. By your Spirit’s power grant us eyes to see and hearts to know the wonders of all that you have achieved through Jesus Christ our Lord. Strengthen us to live as your people and so lift high the name of Jesus Christ the one through whom salvation comes. All praise and glory belong to you Almighty God. Amen
Collect. O God, your promises are very great; in times of crisis, when all around us is giving way, strengthen us to trust in you, and the approach of your reign of peace; this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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