Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Sunday next before Lent. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find materials below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord"
Today's Gospel
Mark 9:2-9 The Transfiguration of Christ
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Reflection
Last week, Revd Paul Monk concluded his Sermon by highlighting the need for us to consider how we use words and how we shape our words, our worlds and how they shape us.
This week we hear of the Transfiguration of Christ. Just the word transfiguration seems to have something extremely significant about it don’t you think?
Ponder for a moment, when was the last time you used the word ‘transfigure’. Can you ever remember using it? Do we ever say something like, ‘that was a transfiguring day’, or maybe, ‘that conversation or meal I just had was really transfiguring’! Even if we won a decent amount on the lottery we might say it was life changing but I doubt we would describe it as transfiguring.
Transfiguration is clearly something quite exceptional. Hardly surprising then, that we are told that Mark, James and Peter were so frightened.
I don’t know how many of you reading this are hikers or serious walkers, but those who are will know that being on a mountain can be quite scary especially when you are all alone and something unexpected happens. In some cases that might be something dashing in the corner of your eye that startles you or a sudden change in weather conditions as happened here when the cloud suddenly came down.
But what the disciples saw must have been truly beyond belief, as they witnessed a supernatural change in their teacher and ‘His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them’.
Try, for a moment, to imagine what would be going through your own mind if you saw this. Remember that, despite witnessing Jesus perform miracles of healing and his extraordinary wisdom and teaching, until this point Jesus was just a human being in their eyes. Suddenly, not only His clothes were shining brilliantly, but we know from other Gospel accounts that his face was shining too.
What might you think? Had Jesus been struck by lightning or perhaps some other unknown force of nature? The disciples also saw and recognised the presence of Moses, who they would know from scripture had been in the presence of God on Mount Sinai and as result his face had been shining.
Perhaps, frightened as they were, they had begun to understand the importance of what was happening.
Here on top of another mountain, [Mount Tabor] they were experiencing the true nature of Jesus being fully revealed to them in all His glory as the mask of humanity was removed.
Then for the avoidance of doubt, they are enveloped in a cloud and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Whether you describe this as a transfiguration or a transformation, it was a turning point for Jesus as His identity was revealed to the disciples and He started His journey towards Jerusalem and the Cross.
At the top of Mount Tabor, Peter, James and John quite literally saw Jesus ‘in a different light’ as His magnificence and divine identity was exposed for them to witness.
In the last few weeks, our scriptural journey has taken us from the birth of Jesus, through Epiphany, the Presentation of Christ at the temple, and ended up with the wonderful revelation of the Transfiguration just two weeks before we start on the sombre path walking with Jesus toward His crucifixion.
But as we head along that path, we can be reassured that the message of the Transfiguration is so profound and significant that it is shining a divine and guiding light that beams past the Cross and towards the good news of the resurrection of our Lord. A light of promise, hope and love for all us.
May the Lord make His face to shine upon us. Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for revealing the glory of Your Son Jesus Christ.
The transfiguration of Christ marked a turning point and the start of His journey to the Cross and glorious resurrection.
Help us to examine our own lives and the turning points ahead,
that we may make the right decisions
and be guided by the illumination of your loving presence
Amen
Today's final hymn is "How Great Thou Art"
Notices
All are welcome to join us at our Ash Wednesday Service this week, as we embark on our journey through Lent.
