Verse for the week: “For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.. (II Corinthians 4.6)
Prayer for the week: “Christ our God, you were
transfigured on the mountain and manifested your glory to your disciples as
they were able to bear it. Shed your
everlasting light upon our darkness, that we may behold your glory and enter
into your sufferings, and proclaim you to the world, for you give light in the
darkness and are yourself the light, now and forever. Amen.” (Eastern Orthodox,
in Fredercik B. Macnutt, The Prayer Manual, London: Mowbray, 1951, pp.121-22)
Bible reading for the day: Luke 9.28-37 (note: read the rest of chapter 9
and hear how dim the disciples are throughout it.)
28 Now about eight days after these sayings he
took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29
And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his
clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking
with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of
his departure (Greek: exodus), which he was about to accomplish at
Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with
sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who
stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said
to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one
for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34
As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and
they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out
of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And
when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told
no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
37 On the next day, when they had come down
from the mountain, a great crowd met him.
Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious
and almighty Father, thank you for choosing to fulfill the law and the
prophets, to accomplish your whole will in Christ crucified and raised for our
forgiveness. Thank you! Whether we are
dazzled by him, terrified of him, or sleepy and tired, above all grant me and
your whole church to listen to him.
Repent us of wanting your white-hot Son to be just our shiny new
friend. Until Jesus returns, pour your
Holy Spirit upon me and your church and lead us down from the mountain top
straight into our calling in ordinary, everyday life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that
gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CF9cTcOm5o
“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord…”
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ — true God, begotten of the
Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary — is my Lord.
He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, and has freed me from sin,
death, and the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy
and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this
in order that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him
in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen
from the dead and lives and reigns for all eternity. This is most certainly
true! (from “The Small Catechism” by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola
Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: Now to him who by the power at work
within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or
imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
T: thanksgiving
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