Saturday Before Transfiguration

Lectionary texts for Transfiguration Sunday (Februrary 14)   Color: White

OT: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Psalm 50:1-6 (UMH 783)

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:2-6

Gospel: Mark 9:2-9

The Transfiguration is feast day on the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent. It commemorates Jesus' being transfigured in glory for a brief time on a mountain in Galilee with Peter, James, and John witnessing the event and Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus. 

In our last couple of blogs on High Church--Low Church I've talked about Contemporary Worship. Generally CW does not follow the lectionary or the Christian Year. For those of you who will be watching contemporary worship services on U-Tube tomorrow, let me know whether there is any mention of Transfiguration Sunday. 

Today we return to our Acts Bible Study. Please read Acts 15:1-5. You might also read Galatians 1 for background.

Paul and Barnabas have returned to Antioch after their successful (for the most part) mission in Galatia, the central region of what is now Turkey. A group of Jerusalem Christians, none of whom are named in Acts, have come from Jerusalem with a message contrary to what Paul and Barnabas have been teaching. This group, subsequently called the sect of the Pharisees, contend that circumcision and following the Torah are essential for salvation. As we discussed in our last Bible Study, this is tantamount to saying that to be a Christian you will have to become a Jew first. 

I want to stress that this group does not accurately represent the Pharisees in Judaism. Pharisees believe that following the Torah pleases God but not that it brings salvation. Salvation is for all Jews. The Christian Pharisaic sect that has come to Antioch has a stricter interpretation, as we discussed last time.

Paul and Barnabas vigorously debate against these Christians. Paul and Barnabas are then appointed by the Church of Antioch to go up to Jerusalem for further discussion with the Jerusalem Apostles and elders. Luke portrays this event as a very civil meeting and the problem as quickly and for the most part harmoniously  resolved. In Galatians 1and 2 Paul himself portrays it very differently, as we shall see. 

 

We'll be flipping back and forth between Acts an Galatians over our next couple of sessions to try to get the clearest possible picture of what happened in this pivotal meeting for all the future course of Christianity.

Transfiguration

Holy God,

upon the mountain you revealed our Messiah.

   who by his death and resurrection

   would fulfill both the law and the prophets.

By his transfiguration enlighten our path

   that we may dare to suffer with him in the service of humanity

   and so share in the everlasting glory of him

   who lives and reigns withj you and the Holy Spirit

   One God, forever. Amen.

                                                  --Lawrence Stookey (20th century, UMH 259).