Transfiguration Sunday (C), February 27, 2022—Exodus 34:29–35; 2 Corinthians 3:12—4:2; Luke 9:28–36 (37–43)

 

 

Duccio di Buoninsegna: Transfiguration of Christ 

Panel from the Maesta altarpiece, Siena, Italy (1308-1311)

Exodus 34:29–35; 2 Corinthians 3:12—4:2; and Luke 9:28–36 (37–43)

What Is It with the Bible and Veils?

Moses’ face he has to hide,

It’s way too scary being near the

One with whom our God abides;

Then Peter, James and John see Jesus

Dazzling white up on that mount

With Moses and Elijah, talking,

Peter makes a quick head count

(Perhaps the better to preserve it)

Next creeps in—that veil! A cloud

O’ershadows them! And they see nothing,

Hearing, though, that voice, aloud,

The same voice long ago to Moses,

They know Jesus is the one

To follow down the hill, to where that

Boy is healed—and they become

Astounded at the mighty acts of

God, who in this Jesus takes

The veils away! And so St. Paul says,

(Here’s the thing:) Make no mistake!

The glory of this Lord is seen when

—By God!—we will not lose heart,

But see, somehow, God in each other,

Rather than our God, apart!

 

Think not in terms of God in veils,

But God in neighbor, grace entails.

Scott L. Barton 

 

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Luke 9:28–36 (37–43)

 

By Love Configured

 

He goes up to the mount to pray

Not knowing what will come his way,

Since just a week ago he said

That he’d be killed, yet from the dead

He’d rise—that is, if he’s the one!

 

Soon, Peter, most of all undone

By such a prayer that went both ways

—That is, was answered!—is amazed

To see the Law and Prophets now

Boiled down to one so light-endowed.

 

Rebuking, next, that spirit, strong,

The chosen one won’t go along

With evil that a boy would ground,

Which did each one who saw, astound.

 

And Luke, his tale as here configured

Invites us still to be transfigured.

 

Scott L.Barton

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This would work very well as the closing hymn:

Crucified Lord Who Rose So We Might Live

NICAEA 

Scott L. Barton (2014)              John Bacchus Dykes (1861) 

 

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

After six days, you took them up the mountainside,

There a new defining, in your face all shining,

You, our new Moses, ever here abide.

 

We have come before you, seeking to adore you,

In this sanctuary, our songs to you we raise,

Your word still astounds us, grace for all surrounds us,

Our love for you, and all, our greatest praise.

 

There is no delaying, for we hear you saying,

“Follow where I go, and cure the sick and heal the lame;

Folk of every label, welcome to my table,

Fear not, by faith, my love to all proclaim.”

 

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Now we go returning, out to the world you give;

Traveling together, through all kinds of weather,

Crucified Lord, who rose so we might live!

 

Scott L.Barton 

Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.  

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Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.

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Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

 

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Lectionary Poems, Year C: Even More Surprising Grace for Pulpit and Pew, which has all these poems for the year, 150 of them, including seven new hymn texts, with two indices of scriptural references and titles, is available from Wipf and Stock, Amazon, or, the least expensive, from me, signed and inscribed, for only $11 (which includes tax) and $3.19 postage. Check or Venmo. Write me at scott.l.barton[at sign]gmail[dot com]!  —S.L.B.