A reading from the book of Genesis (12:1-4)
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your kindred and your father’s house for a country that I shall show you; and I shall make you into a great nation, I shall bless you and make your name famous; you are to be a blessing!
‘I shall bless those who bless you,
and curse those who curse you,
and all clans on earth
will bless themselves by you.’
So Abram went as the Lord told him.
The story of Abram, later to be called Abraham (Genesis 17), begins with the command of the Lord that he should set out on a journey. Abram promptly obeys. In Genesis 1 God blesses both human beings and the fish of the sea. The story of Abram, with which salvation history begins in Genesis 12, also announces blessings. Guided only by the word of God, Abram is to leave what he has and trust in God alone. God will bless him, and bless those who bless him, so that all the nations will bless themselves by him. This image of harmony throughout the earth is built on the faith of Abram in God who provides for all. The story of God and of the people of God is essentially a story of blessing.
Psalm 33 (32) As Abraham knew, the word of God is to be trusted. Abraham, who showed reverence for God, knows God as ‘help’ and ‘shield’.
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy (1:8-10)
Share in my hardships for the sake of the gospel, relying on the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling – not because of anything we ourselves had done but for his own purpose and by his own grace, granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time; but revealed only by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who both abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel.
The Christian is called to share in the suffering which preaching the gospel brings, for God has both saved us and called us, with a call which does not rely on any good deeds we have done but is a gift of grace. The gift, prepared from long ago, is revealed by the ‘appearing’ (epifaneia) of the Saviour, who destroys death, and brings life and immortality. The gospel proclaims a free gift of God revealed in the coming of ‘our Saviour Christ Jesus’.
A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (17:1-9)
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain on their own. In their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, saying, ‘Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus himself alone.
The story of the transfiguration is told in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, in a broadly similar way. To grasp the significance of the story we must bear in mind that it happens just as Jesus prepares to journey to Jerusalem, and as he speaks to his disciples for the first time of his coming death and resurrection. Moses and Elijah, who appear in the scene, are remembered as having conquered death. The testimony of Scripture is that the grave of Moses was never found (Deuteronomy 34), and that Elijah was taken up in a chariot to heaven (2 Kings 2). These traditions point us towards the idea of resurrection. In the strange experience of the transfiguration three chosen disciples are given a glimpse of resurrection glory. Meanwhile we are bidden by the voice of God to ‘listen’ to Jesus.
How does this story prepare us for the Cross?
For all who today need courage to face death, their own, or the death of another, we pray.