The Last Sunday After the Epiphany (Year A), Feb. 3, 2008
BCP: Exodus 24:12 (13-14) 15-18; Psalm99; Phil. 3:7-14;Matt. 17:1-9
RCL: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2 or 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matt. 17:1-9
The last Sunday of the season of Epiphany brings us the fullest and most revelatory epiphany of them all. Prior to his resurrection, no appearance of our Lord so completely displays the truth about him. Jesus comes out from behind the shadows, as it were, and is transformed before his friends, Peter and John. The fullness of the Godhead within the incarnate Son of God shone forth.
The church has linked this event with the mission of the church, designating this as World Mission Sunday. The lessons of the day give us the dual truths of the Christian redeemer and the Christian life. Both are essential if Christ’s mission is to move against the darkness. God spoke to Peter and John. “This is my Son whom I love. With him I am well pleased. Listen to him.” If Jesus is anything less than the Son of God, then he cannot be the savior of the world. Who else could save the sinners of the world but one who had left heaven and become like us? If only human, he would have his own issues before God. If only divine, we wouldn’t have a true representative before God.
God has expressed his pleasure in Jesus. The sacrifice for the sins of the world has been accepted before heaven’s throne. We are to listen, absorb what he tells us, and pass it on to those who do not know.
God also spoke to Paul. Over time God stripped him of the confidence he had in the achievements of his Jewish life. These were as garbage compared to what he gained in Christ. And what was that? Paul spoke almost of physical location within Christ. The expressions he used were “because of Christ,” “on account of Christ,” “through Christ.”
The Christian life was a process that moved Paul to pressing on, drawing closer, wanting more. The sign of the Christian life for Paul was death—death with Christ, suffering with him, becoming conformed to the image of Christ crucified. Then, and only afterwards, comes the participation with him in his resurrection life and power.
The mission of the church moves forward when we have confidence in our Messiah and when the image of Christ crucified fills the messengers. With these in place the world will gain, and so will the church.
Look It Up
Peter made two observations on this experience. The comparison of them is instructive. Check out 1 Peter 2:16-21.
Think About It
Paul’s suffering with Christ is out of step with most attitudes toward suffering. How can we find the same gain and maturing through suffering as he?
Next Sunday
The First Sunday in Lent, Feb. 10, 2008
BCP: Gen. 2:4b-9, 15-17, 25–3:7; Psalm 51 or 51:1-13 ; Rom. 5:12-19 (20-21); Matt. 4:1-11
RCL: Gen. 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Rom. 5:12-19; Matt. 4:1-11
