Sunday before Lent
Collect
Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: Give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Matthew 17: 1-9
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Two transfigurations?
The gospel story of the Transfiguration in Matthew 17 provides many opportunities for exposition.
17:2 has parallels with Exodus 34:29, when Moses returns from talking with the Lord, his face radiant with the light he has seen with his own eyes – God’s real presence becoming visible.
In 17:3, we could discuss the link between Old and New Testaments – the fulfilment of the Law given to Moses, and the promise of a Redeemer as prophesised by Elijah, being filled by the Messiah.
In 17:4, Peter’s all too human response is a request for permanence, a desire to hold on to the Mountaintop experience for ever.
In 17:5&6, God commands an acceptance of Jesus’ authority with such power that the disciples are terrified.
17:7 records Jesus’ encouragement that they should not be afraid but inspired them and reassures them to be fearless in the events that are to happen – that His power will overcome the world.
In 17:8, short as the experience might be, it will be burnt into their memory and they too will carry the reflected light with them in their future ministries.
In later years Paul will describe his own personal experience of meeting Christ in 2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory
In all of this, the Transfiguration – when Jesus the human is recognised as divine – is often described as the meeting place of the temporal and the eternal. But let me suggest that our interpretation of this massive, life shattering meeting might sometimes get it the wrong way round.
Perhaps the Mountaintop Transfiguration – the metamorphosis, the change – is actually in the believer’s eyes as, for the first time, they see the changeless Jesus as he is, was before the world was made, and will be when the New Jerusalem descends; His Earthly Transfiguration having happened at the moment of incarnation, when the divine became a human being.
Malachi 3:8 – He changeth not. Rather, it is in our belief that we, with unveiled faces, are changed forever. Perhaps, when we pray, we need to remember it is the Jesus on the Mountain to whom we address our prayers, the one whose face shines like the sun and transfigures our faces as we radiate in His light.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Church Online) – Hillsong Worship
Previous Posts
Praying Together 12th April 2026
Let’s talk about Peter, the ‘Rock’ on which Christ’s Church is built.
Seriously, would you have chosen him? Surely, one of the other Disciples would be the most highly qualified.
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A Reflection provided by the Revd. Barbara Irrgang-Buckley for the First Sunday of Easter
Praying Together – A Thought for Good Friday 2026
Through our tears as we stand at the foot of the Cross and witness His Crucifixion on this Good Friday, we have the privilege of looking beyond the day unto a day of joy as we are assured of His life – then, today and tomorrow. We leave our past behind as we walk away from Golgotha, the place of the skull.
Praying Together March 29th 2026
These things are worth meditation and thought, as we enter this Holy Week – but the even more important question that we can only answer for ourselves, is embodied in twelve straightforward words written by Charles Wesley.
How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Praying Together 22 March 2026
“Lazarus, come out.” He calls Lazarus by name. Even death cannot triumph, and so it is with sin. There is no depth or distance to which human being can go that can prevent them from hearing that call. It is up to them to choose to accept or deny it.
Praying Together 15th March 2026
Simeon, though, didn’t just hear about the Messiah being incarnate in the child – he also knew that the child’s destiny would involve pain and suffering in order to fulfil His mission. And Mary knew too. The consolation of Israel – of the world – would cost her the life of her child.
Praying Together 8th March 2026
And in turn, we are challenged to become messengers ourselves, however unsuitable or ill-equipped we might feel.
Praying Together 22nd February 2026
If we are to appreciate the gentleness of a lamb, we need to know its opposite. If we are to understand what safety is, we need also to experience the possibility of danger.
Praying Together February 8th 2026
Is Jesus suggesting, not to eat and drink? And is he saying we should not wear clothes but go naked?
How unrealistic is this, and how depressing – we need to eat and drink, and we need clothing.
Praying Together February 1st 2026
Christ’s words are given to all His people in the face of the difficulties we ourselves face in life. We claim them and are assured of Blessing. And that is all we need.
Praying Together January 25th 2026
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Praying Together 18th January 2026
In prayer, we ask: Who is God calling to come and use their specific individual gifts to continue to build His Kingdom in the future?
His reply is clear.
“You”, He says.