Erasmus+ – project
| Anglican lectionary: Catholic lectionary: | 1st Reading Ex 34.29-35 Sir 27.4-7(5-8) | Psalm 99 – | 2nd Reading 2 Cor 3.12 – 4.2 1 Cor 15.54-58 | Gospel Luke 9.28-36[37-43a] Luke 6.39-45 |
| additional: 2 Peter 1.16-19 | ||||
Dr Elizabeth Perry, Programme and Communication Manager, Anglican Alliance
SUMMARY OF PREACHING THEME
LISTEN TO THE WORD:
- In the Transfiguration, God’s eternal past and future break into the present. It is a shining moment of revelation.
- There are strong echoes of Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai. Both are seminal events of profound significance, and they take place in nature (mountain top experiences).
- In the New Testament reading, there is the expectation that, as Jesus’ followers, we too will reflect his likeness to those around us. We are called to shine.
THINK ABOUT GOD’S CALL:
- Where do we see the eternal breaking into our world today?
- What is Jesus saying today that we need to hear and attend to?
- Like Peter, are we in danger of rushing headlong into activity and being side-tracked by structures? Or will we be attentive to moments of understanding and revelation – God’s shining moments – and live in light of them?
LINK TO THE WORLD:
- We live in a world where there is brokenness, injustice and darkness… but there are also many sparks of hope and “the light shines in the darkness”. Examples abound of those on the side of light.
- The psalmist writes, “Lover of justice, you have established equity”. How far do we mirror God’s heart of justice and fairness in an unfair world? One way we can do so is by buying and using fairly traded products. Fairtrade is an alternative model of trade, which puts poverty alleviation, sustainable development, environmental protection and social justice at the heart of international trade.
- (Where) do we encounter God in the natural world?
RESPOND:
Perhaps this week we might…
- Take time to pray in an open, outdoor place, encountering God in nature. What is on your heart concerning God’s creation?
- Take up a new Fair Trade product. Find out about the people who made it. How does it being fairly traded make a difference?
- Take up Green Anglicans’ plastic fast for Lent.
- Look up some stories of hope and transformation. Pray for those working for change.
DETAILED NOTES
Old Testament reading / Psalm
God’s radiance seen in the face of Moses. In the reading from Exodus, Moses comes down Mount Sinai after 40 days in God’s awesome presence, carrying the record of God’s covenant with Israel carved afresh on tablets of stone. Moses’ face is radiant; his encounter with the Lord has marked and changed him. He shines, reflecting God’s radiance.
Lover of justice. The psalmist writes, “Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity”. Fairness and love of justice are the heart God’s nature… and we are called to reflect that. The prophet Micah writes, “what does the Lord require of you but to love kindness, do justice and walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
New Testament reading
We are called to shine. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (verse 18). Paul expects that, as those who follow Jesus, we will reflect his likeness to those around us. We are called to shine – like Moses, but with unveiled faces, reflecting God’s radiance, showing how our encounter with the Lord has changed us… is transforming us.
Gospel
In the Transfiguration, God’s eternal past and future break into the present in a burst of clarity and glory. There are strong echoes of Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sanai: the dazzling light of revelation and instruction in a high place follow a time of darkness and challenge (for Moses, literal cloud; for the disciples, the weight of Jesus’ declaration that those who would follow him must take up their cross and follow him, whatever the cost). But here, words of love and comfort, and Jesus’ gentle touch and presence, replace Sinai’s devouring fire. And God’s instruction is simple, “This is my Son… listen to him!”
Although terrified, confused and flustered to the point of babbling at the time, Peter later looks back on the Transfiguration as a seminal moment of understanding and seeing (2 Peter 1:16-19). And he urges his readers to heed such moments saying, “be attentive, as to a lamp shining in a dark place”.
- Where do we see the eternal breaking into our world today?
- What is Jesus saying today that we need to hear and attend to?
- Like Peter, are we in danger of rushing headlong into activity and being side-tracked by structures?
- Or will we be attentive to moments of understanding and revelation – God’s shining moments – and live in light of them?
- Have we had moments of revelation and insight in the past that we need to recall and attend to?
- For both Moses and Jesus (and, indeed, Peter), these pivotal moments of encounter with the divine take place in nature; they are literally “mountain top” experiences. (Where) do we encounter God in the natural world?
Stories / illustrations / videos:
The short poem “When I am among the trees” by Mary Oliver is beautiful and speaks of luminous moments spent in nature. It ends with the words, “you too have come into the world to do this… to be filled with light, and to shine”.
As the Anglican Alliance we are privileged to see and hear many stories of transformation, of light shining in dark places. Here are some links you might find helpful for stories and illustrations:
In January, distinguished academics, diplomats, faith leaders and faith-based organisations met at Lambeth Palace under the aegis of the Archbishop of Canterbury to explore migration caused by climate change. Central to the day were contributions from Oceania, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean – from people who are involved and affected – to see what can be learnt in the search for effective responses. Examples of the challenges people face and how people are responding can be found here.
Anti-human trafficking work. Last October, the Anglican Alliance jointly convened an anti-human trafficking consultation for the East Asia and Pacific region with the Salvation Army. The workshop brought together practitioners, clergy and lay people to determine how churches can work together and with others to prevent human trafficking and support survivors as they seek to rebuild their lives. A write up of the workshop, including examples of where churches are taking action, can be found here.
You can find reflective visual prayers (PowerPoints and videos) on the Christian Concern for One World website here and on the Anglican Alliance website here.
Environmental & Sustainability themes / links:
The Fairtrade movement stands for equity and justice, determinedly offering an alternative model of trade, which puts poverty alleviation, sustainable development, environmental protection and social justice at the heart of international trade. By buying and promoting Fairtrade products we affirm our faith in a God of justice, seek to share God’s love in our daily lives and take a simple, practical step to follow in the way of Jesus. Further information, stories and prayers can be found here.
For many people, Blue Planet 2 was a wake-up call to plastic pollution. Green Anglicans have a plastic fast for Lent you might encourage your congregation to participate in: Plastic fast.
WORSHIP / LITURGICAL RESOURCES
Response to the Word
Some visual prayers can be found here.
Hymns & Songs
Christ be our Light by Bernadette Farrell is particularly suitable, linking light with justice and God’s transforming work in the world. Details here.
A wonderful source of inspiration for hymns and songs can be found on the Sanctuary Centre website here: outward-focused song index
Children’s / All Age ideas
The Anglican Communion Environmental Network has created the Sunday School resource Oceans of Plastic.
by Dr. Elizabeth Perry, Anglican Alliance