Sunday Worship
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Sunday next before Lent.
Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "New Every Morning is the Love"
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
As I looked at this reading, a couple of things came to mind.
The first thing that happened was a TV programme I noticed, called the Summit. It’s a reality TV show with Ben Sheppard, where a group of people have to climb a mountain in New Zealand.
It reminded me of the years I worked in Scotland, when we often hiked up mountains at weekends. There were always spectacular views and vistas to see, taking in the majesty and magnitude of God’s creation in the breathtaking views of the peaks, glens and lochs. It almost always felt spiritual and made me feel genuinely nearer to God.
Perhaps that’s because – subconsciously I associate mountains with God’s presence.
In the OT reading [Exodus 24] and Gospel passage, we see two such examples of God appearing on mountains, on each occasion He is manifest in the form of a cloud.
The first is on Mount Sinai where God gave Moses instructions for the people of Israel as to how they are to live together in peace, and how to worship and honour God. God revealed detailed instructions for building the tabernacle, (a holy place of worship), priestly vestments, and keeping the Sabbath. He also revealed rules about cleanliness, how to treat one another and punishments. And most important of all, The Ten Commandments. The mountain was where God, in the cover of cloud, renewed His covenant with the people of Israel.
When Moses comes down from Mount Sinai a second time his face is shining like the sun, because Moses has been in the presence of God. And the Israelites were so frightened that Moses had to cover his face.
In the Gospel passage, Peter, James and John share a similar experience as they witness the Transfiguration of Christ. This again takes place on a mountain. Many people believe the mountain was probably Mount Hermon, in the region of Caesarea which had a position of extreme grandeur and beauty, overlooking the whole of Palestine.
I wonder what was going through the minds of Peter, James and John as events unfolded.
To some extent they sort of know that there is something special about Jesus. They’ve been with him for a while and have seen some pretty awesome things: They’ve seen Him heal the sick and cast out demons, not to mention a few miracles along the way such as feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water. And they’ve listened to his teaching, interpreting the scriptures in new ways and referring to God as His Father. A few days before they went up the mountain to pray with Jesus, Simon Peter has even acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of the Living God.
Now Jesus was revealing everything to his closest apostles and His true nature was being made visible before their very eyes.
Just like the Israelites had been when they saw Moses face shining, Peter, James and John were also frightened when they saw Jesus’ face ‘shining like the sun.’
But Jesus has not changed. He is still the same Jesus, but the glory of God has been revealed. The veil of Jesus’ flesh is pulled back and the disciples can see the light of the glory of God shining forth. This is the revelation that Jesus is both fully human and also fully divine. This is a revelation not only to the apostles but to all of us.
The other thing that influenced my thinking this week was a conversation with Rev. Kirsten. It was about how some churches seem to focus less on the Old Testament and just on the Gospel readings. In doing so they miss much of the context and significance of God’s whole plan for us.
It is therefore important that we understand the implication of the appearance of Elijah and Moses appearing on the mountain alongside Jesus. The presence of Elijah and Moses points us to the importance of the whole Word of God and God’s plans for humanity - from the beginning of time to eternity.
As we heard, Moses was the one who brought the Law of God to the people of God. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets. Their presence highlights how Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s law and the prophecies of the Old Testament.
However, His incarnation, life, death and resurrection does not supersede everything that goes before His birth at Bethlehem.
Whilst Jesus argued with the scribes and Pharisees from time to time, he was highlighting how they often manipulated or misinterpreted the law for their own purposes. He was not challenging the law.
As Jesus says in Matthew 5:18 ‘…. until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.’
In other words, every element of God’s law outlined in the scriptures of the Old Testament remains complete and totally unchanged, and even the smallest part must not be disregarded. The Old Testament remains essential to our understanding of God’s word. Jesus’ actions and teachings show us how to live by God’s law. As God said to the apostles on Mount Hermon, we need to listen to Him.
In the Epistle reading, Peter recalls the transfiguration event stating that; he was a witness to the voice from heaven confirming the majesty of Christ Jesus, telling us that Jesus is the One to whom we must listen and whom we must obey. Like Peter, we are called to witness the glory of God manifest in Jesus - fully human and fully God. And we too are called to listen and obey Him.
Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
We thank you that you revealed your glory in your Son Jesus Christ.
And that through Him you renewed your covenant with Israel and also the Gentiles.
Help us to worship you as Jesus showed us how to,
And love and help each other and to obey your laws.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "I Cannot Tell, Why He whom Angels Worship"
Notices
This week we enter the Season of Lent, and there will be lots of additional services and events.
Please see the posters below for what's happening this week, and there will be more to follow next week.
