|
||||||
|
Serving God and Sharing Good News |
Weekly Bible Notes
Sunday Next Before Lent - Year B
Liturgical Colour - Green
Introduction
Christians are often referred to as Pilgrims. That is because the Christian life can be viewed as a journey. Christians believe that when we are done with this world we go to be with God, in a place which is regarded as our spiritual home. Upon that journey we find times when we are full of hope and excitement, and other times when life seems hard and our faith is tested. In the passage from Mark today the disciples are given a glimpse of the majesty of God, it will make them feel great - but it has a much deeper purpose - it will serve to sustain them when times are hard. The Christian is therefore prepared in advance that the road may become rough and steep. It is at such times that we must remain even more firmly fixed on Jesus our Saviour.
Opening Verses of Scripture Mark 9
And a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray
Holy God, you know the disorder of our sinful lives, set straight our crooked hearts, and bend our wills to love your goodness and your glory, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Common Worship Shorter Form
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, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Common Worship
God of life and light, your Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death on the cross. Give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to follow him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Methodist Worship
Lord God, whose glory shines upon us in the face of Jesus Christ, and whose nature is made known to us in the mystery of the cross: number us we pray among his faithful followers for whom nothing matters but the doing of your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Methodist Worship
First Bible Reading 2 Kings 2:1-12
When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it." Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho. The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it." Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two of them walked on. Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied. "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours--otherwise not." As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
(This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God)
Second Reading 2 Corinthians Chapter 4:3-6
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
(This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God)
Gospel Reading
Mark 9:2-9
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 enveloped 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.
(This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.)
Post Communion Sentence
Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:
may we who are partakers at his table reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know his power to change and save. We ask this
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Commentary
The episode today recorded in the Gospel of Mark has been called 'a window
into a different world.'
The recent film of 'The Lion the witch and the wardrobe.' by C.S.
Lewis is a wonderful story of three children and their adventure in the
magical land of Narnia. It is a children's book but also very grown up. It
causes us to question whether there is another world. Many people are
oblivious to a spiritual world, they are mindful of and governed only by the
ordinary and the mundane.
This episode reminds us
- That there is a place beyond our own time
- That there is a spiritual realm.
- That when we die we go to meet with God and exist in his presence. Interestingly of course Moses had not entered the promised land, yet now here he was clearly alive in God's promised land. For those considering what happens when we die this may be an interesting piece of scripture to remember. In this place clearly Moses and Elijah are presented as alive in God.
Christian are called pilgrims for many reasons, one of them is because we believe that we are on our way to another home, a kingdom which is not of this world, whose values are different. Success is to be measured in very different terms. We are to have hope and judge ourselves by the values of that Kingdom
Jesus had spoken to his disciples of death and suffering and they were afraid. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah! They must have been terrified. Here were two great pillars of the Jewish faith, men who it was believed had been spared death in the normal way. The disciples feared over so much, they were paralysed with fear, we too can be fearful without need. There is much over which we can be afraid, this episode gave the disciples something which would give them strength in the days ahead. This was an opportunity upon which they could reflect. This moment was something which they could not hold onto in time, but they could hold it in their hearts and draw strength from it. It was a God - given encouragement.
So it was to be Peter spoke about it later: we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty [2 Peter 1:16-18].
It empowered them for service
We have all had some experience of the wonder of God. Sometimes it comes to us through the appreciation of nature, sometimes, indeed, on a mountain. But we all have to come back down the mountain and get on with real life, and most of our time is spent at the bottom of the mountain in the valleys of life. The ministry of Jesus could not be conducted from the mountain top, it was instead something carried out on the cross of suffering. But when the disciples were tempted to give up and think that the Christian service to which they were called was a hopeless cause, they were to look back and remember Christ as they knew him in the Transfiguration, clothed in glory.
Some of the details of the story are worth mentioning. Mountains were important places. If we think back in the Bible we will remember Moriah, Horeb, and Sinai. These were important mountains upon which God was made known. Moriah was where Isaac was nearly sacrificed, on Sinai Moses received the law and at Horeb Elijah met God.
We are told by Mark that the clothes of Jesus became 'stilbein.' This is a word which is used for the bright appearance of gold or shinning polished steel. We are reminded of the shekinah, the divine presence. In Jewish thought the presence of God is often associated with the appearance of cloud. Remember this is where Moses met God. When Solomon dedicated the Temple it was filled with cloud. By including the presence of cloud, Mark was saying something important about the presence of God with Jesus. This was important because Jesus had just been to Caesarea Philippi and determined to go to Jerusalem to die. This was a signal that God was with Jesus in this decision, he was following the path of God. This was confirmed by the presence of Moses the law giver and Elijah who represented the prophets. Everything that had gone before was now finding fulfilment in Jesus.
It is important for us to try and understand how significant this would have been for the disciples. They had no doubt been shattered by the decision of Jesus that he would go to die in Jerusalem. Now here was a scene in which they could receive assurance that Jesus had made the right decision. For a moment the cloak which divides our material world from the spiritual realm is drawn back for the disciples and they are able to receive a glimpse of the 'other side.' Many people would want to see the incident as some kind of hallucination, but this is to miss the point. In some ways this story is not unique. Throughout the ages there are times when many Christians have been able to speak of having experienced the reality of God presence is a manner which is extraordinary and convincing. There are occasions when the curtain is pulled back momentarily and that we which hope for, which lies unseen is confirmed in a dramatic way. We should be sceptical of such reports, we should not expect them to come often, nevertheless they are true and we should rejoice that there are those who are able to speak of them and reassure us all in times when the valleys seem so much lower than the mountain tops.
God's grace is shown in such moments. By such tokens we are sustained in times of need or prepared for future service. God's grace is sufficient for us, for our empowerment, not for our enjoyment. God gives to our needs, not our greeds, the spiritual uplifting is to sustain us, not for our indulgence.
Charles Royden
Meditation
Hymns
-
O Worship the Lord 529 Tune Was Lebet
-
There’s a sound on the wind 681
-
One day when heaven 540 Mission Praise
-
Thou who wast rich 700 Tune Fragrance
-
Ye holy angels bright 783 Tune Darwells 148
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is sown in the heart of every Christian,
if it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected, it will wither and die
Mother/Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we praise and thank you through Christ Jesus
for your presence and action in the world.
In the midst of conflict and division,
we know it is you who turn our minds
to thoughts of peace.
The Spirit changes our hearts:
enemies begin to speak to one another,
those who were estranged join hands in friendship,
and nations seek the way of peace together.
The Spirit is at work
when understanding puts an end to strife,
when hatred is quenched by mercy,
and when vengeance gives way to forgiveness.
For this we never cease to thank and praise you.
Amen.
Prayer for Peace John Bucki, SJ
Let me prefer your presence, O God, to all other company. Let me exalt your
name, O Lord, above all other names and let me love your will, O God, beyond
all other desires; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897
Additional Material
Alternate readings
God of life and light, your Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death on the cross. Give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to follow him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Bible Reading Hosea 2:14-20
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
"In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master, I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
"In that day I will respond," declares the LORD - "I will respond to the skies, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel. I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one. ' I will say to those called 'Not my people, ' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God. (This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God)
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?" Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins." (This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God)
Commentary: Commitment
There was once a man who, when out walking and coming to a wide stream would throw his coat over to the other side. He said that it was the only way to force him to find a way to cross it!
Such extreme determination to take up a challenge, to commit to a decision is rare. In today’s reading from Gospel we see Levi (Matthew) choosing to follow Jesus in a matter of moments.
I expect his family and friends would think he had made a reckless decision. In choosing to answer Jesus’ call, Matthew abandoned a prosperous way of life for the dangers and uncertainties of discipleship. In the second part of the reading, Jesus publicly consorted with the tax collector and his sleazy friends. The more cautious of Jesus’ companions must have been worried by the Lord sitting down to eat with hated outcasts. Jesus was being reckless with his reputation, refusing to conform to the respectable behaviour expected from a preacher with a rising reputation. Jesus’ behaviour is a reminder that throughout his life he always chose the brave path, rather than the cautious one, a reminder that he always did what was right rather than what was conventional.
Christian life is more often a series of choices, rather than one definitive choice. It is a continual effort to stick to Jesus’ teachings, to try and obey God’s will for us.
This coming week sees the start of Lent, when we are called to focus upon Jesus’ path to the Cross at Easter. It is a traditional time for Christians to fast or sacrifice a pleasure to enable them to focus better on their spiritual selves.
Perhaps this Lent you might feel called upon to take up something rather than give up! Perhaps you could commit to more regular prayer, to the reading of portions of the Gospel, to a course of study? Lent can be a spiritual adventure for followers of Jesus, but it is a journey which requires commitment and determination.
From the point of view of a Christian spirituality, it is important to stress that every human being is called upon to be a healer. Although there are many professions asking for special long and arduous training, we can never leave the task of healing to the specialist….we all are healers who can reach out to offer health, and we all are patients in constant need of help. Henri Nouwen,
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned. - Buddha
Hymns (Mission Praise)
All people that on earth do dwell 20:
Jubilate 394:
Seek ye first the kingdom of God 590:
Will you come and follow me? (on service booklet).
O Lord my God! 506
O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and the longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts we form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.
O God, you are the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you; help us so to know you that we may truly love you, so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Augustine of Hippo