Rev Jack brings the Propers together today. His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/VKrB-7UlXrQ
This Transfiguration is in many ways a strange event, certainly the like of which the world had never seen before and would not see again. In the Collect, we are asking to have our souls be able to withdraw from the noise, clamor and evil of the world which Bishop Cranmer summarizes as the disquietude of this world. In his Epistle, written as he nears the end of his time here on earth, Peter is at peace with what counts and separated in many respects from the disquietude of the world, set aside, or in another word, holy. He tells those who have depended on him for guidance he will soon be leaving them for home; they must carry on with the initial guidance he and his companions have given them. Luke tells us Jesus went up to a mountain; interesting he did not go to the temple, is it not? He took Peter and John and James, those to whom he was closest, and went up to pray and bring change to the world. Having trouble visualizing it all coming together? Read or listen to Rev Jack’s sermon.
The Propers for today are found on Page 247-249, with the Collect first:
The Transfiguration of Christ.
[August 6.]
The Collect.
O |
GOD, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistering; Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty, who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
And the Collect for the superseded Sunday:
The Ninth Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.
G |
RANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle for today comes from Saint Peter’s Second General Epistle, the First Chapter, beginning at the Thirteenth Verse:
I |
THINK it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel according to Saint Luke, the Ninth Chapter beginning at the Twenty-Eighth Verse:
A |
ND it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action
Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California
Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.
Rev Jack brings the Propers together today. His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on videoHERE -> https://youtu.be/VKrB-7UlXrQ
This Transfiguration is in many ways a strange event, certainly the like of which the world had never seen before and would not see again. Certainly an exception to Ecclesiastes 1:9’s The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. For this truly was something new with the Son!
Consider the words from the Collect, wherein we ask God who … grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty …
The Collect does not take us where I, at least, would think it would. We are asking to have our souls be able to withdraw from the noise, clamor and evil of the world which Bishop Cranmer summarizes as the disquietude of this world. To withdraw means to separate, more on that later. But to where? To where we might let our souls behold the King in his beauty. To behold the King in his beauty is to know the Peace of God. That Peace which replaces the disquietude with quietude. To be at peace and rest, something we long for and can only achieve with God’s help via the Holy Ghost.
That leads us into Peter’s words as he nears the end of his time here on earth. He is at peace with what counts and separated in many respects from the disquietude of the world, set aside, or in another word, holy. He tells those who have depended on him for guidance he will soon be leaving them for home; they must carry on with the initial guidance he and his companions have given them. He reminds them they have been given the truth and the light of our Lord Jesus Christ, not a bunch of what he calls cunningly devised fables which were designed to keep them subject to the ways of this world. We follow the truth Himself our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chris who does not want us to be tied to the ways of this world, but keep our spiritual eyes heavenward to follow that narrow uphill trail towards heaven. He reminds them, and us, this Lord Jesus Christ whom we follow was called My Beloved Son out loud by God Himself at His baptism and again on the Mount at the Transfiguration when we were specifically commanded to listen to him and by inference follow him. For what good is listening only?
This, of course, leads to Luke’s account of the Transfiguration. Luke the Physician is often Luke the Historian and this is one of those cases. Jesus went up to a mountain; interesting he did not go to the temple, is it not? He took Peter and John and James, those to whom he was closest, and went up to pray. He knew where he was going, He always did. While He prayed, His appearance and clothing changed. This is the outward transfiguration. You can be sure when He left for the mountain, his clothing was not white and glistering, for in those days nothing was. There he met with Moses and Elias, not dead but alive. They talked of the upcoming crucifixion, but once again Peter’s presence was slipping away as he fell asleep, much like he would at Gethsemane. When Peter awoke, he suggested making three tabernacles or monuments to Jesus, Moses and Elias. That must have amused Jesus to no end. Then came the Cloud of God and the VOICE! This is my beloved Son: hear him. Then, there was just Jesus and his band.
So, what to make of this?
This was a very special and one time event that Peter, John and James were very privileged to be able to attend. The point of this event is that Jesus is who He says He is, the Son of God and the Creator of Earth. Jesus already knew before this event of His upcoming crucifixion, death and resurrection. I believe Moses and Elias spake of these events for the benefit of the apostles attending, as they would have also known Jesus also knew of the upcoming death and resurrection. Peter fell asleep because of his human nature of weakness, something that all of us who are not Jesus share. But we can fight against the human nature with the Help of the Holy Ghost.
And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Action counts. For by their actions ye shall know them.
Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.
The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?
It is by our actions we are known.
Be of God - Live of God - Act of God
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