Gospel | Matthew 17:1-9 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Transfiguration by Aodhan King, Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood, and Taya Gaukrodger

Lyrics:

From the cloud You speak
What was veiled now is seen
Jesus the image of the invisible God

Divinity confirmed
In the transfigured Word
A kingdom once concealed
On the earth now revealed

Holy is the Lord
Revealed before my eyes
And my burning heart
Can scarcely take it in
As I behold Your beauty
With unworthy eyes
The only song my soul can find to sing
Is hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah my King

Lead my longing heart
To the high ground to a clear view
And in awe I'll be there
Beholding You

Now I know I have seen
Your glory that cannot be unseen
I am changed and changing still
As I look upon You Lord and believe

Passage:
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son,[a] with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Musical Reflection:
O Lord, Hear My Prayer by Jacques Berthier

Reflection Notes:
This song from the Taizé community contains a series of pleas: “O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer; when I call, answer me.” The repeated notes emphasize the insistence of the sung prayer, while the descending lines indicate a deep, almost despairing desire to connect.

Prayer:
O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.