The theme for the Transfiguration of Our Lord is The
Vision Glorious. Peter, James, and John were privileged to go with our
Lord onto a mountain and see Him transfigured. That is, they were given a brief
glimpse of His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of
grace and truth (John 1:14). St Luke tells us that Jesus talked with Moses
and Elijah about His departure (Luke 9:31), that is, His impending death,
resurrection, and ascension. It is a strange concept for the natural man, his
understanding clouded by sin, to see the death of Jesus as something glorious,
but it is precisely at the cross that the glory of Christ is made known to us.
For it is on account of this work of Christ that Moses, Elijah, and all the
saints in heaven have been received into glory. This is also the eternal
destiny of all who put their trust in Him and His atoning sacrifice.
Psalm 112:1,
3, 7–9; antiphon, Psalm 112:4—Psalm
112 speaks of the blessedness of the man who fears the LORD. This psalm is a
complement to the preceding psalm, which tells of the blessings, physical and
spiritual, which God bestows upon us. Those who trust in Him—who fear the
LORD—show their gratefulness to Him by their lives, which are conformed to His
will. The one who trust in the Lord greatly delights in His commandments.
After the American election of 2016 tore hearts open,
Kate McKinnon took to the piano on Saturday Night Live to sing Leonard Cohen’s
“Hallelujah.” She’s a comedic actor, it’s a comedy show, and surely the word
“Praise the Lord” has never been sung so earnestly on network late night
television. It was a lament — a biblical cry for the Lord’s presence — penned
by a great Jewish songwriter who had also just died that week.
Read in a skewed way, Psalm 112 could suggest that the
rich are rich because they’re righteous. But read in the context of the whole bible,
we know that is not so. Our God has a cross through the heart. And so will we.
There are already clues that things are more
complicated than a literal reading of 112 lets on. “Fear of the Lord” is a key
to this happiness. This is not reptilian terror. Our culture’s shapers move us
with fear through news or marketing.
Only fear of something greater can keep us from
fearing something lesser. All fears pale compared to fear of the Lord. Even
stranger, this fear is paired with “delight” (Psalm 112:1).[1]
Collect for
Psalm 112: Lord Jesus, you are the light shining in darkness for the upright.
Teach us to love one another as you love us, that we might bring peace and joy
to the world and find the happiness of your home where you live and reign with
the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.[2]
[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fifth-sunday-after-epiphany/commentary-on-psalm-1121-9-10-2
[2] Collect for Psalm 112, For All the Saints, a Prayer Book for and by the Church© 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Woodcut by Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, "The Transfiguration" copyright ©WELS permission is granted for personal and congregational use.
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