Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the Last Sunday in Epiphany: Year C
“Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.” (Luke 9: 30)
It has been explained to me that Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the prophets. Therefore, to Jesus, comes the fulfillment of the Law, and the Prophets.
This scene is further testified to by Peter to others as found in 2nd Peter 1:18. As Moses and Elijah appeared before Peter, James and John it is evidence of the resurrection of those who came before Jesus making Jesus the first fruits of creation.
So how did Peter, James and John know who Moses and Elijah were? There were no emails, or pictures that could have been shared. Perhaps this was another one of those examples where the Holy Spirit is filling in the gaps of our unknowing, a Revelation from God.
This radiance of Jesus is the last holy light we will see for awhile. Ash Wednesday is three days away. You won’t hear about Lent in the news or in the shopping centers. The secular world goes from Valentine’s Day to Easter. There is no money to be made with people reflecting on who God is calling them to be, or the reconciliation of relationships, or repentance.
Moses obeyed God and went back to Egypt to lead God’s chosen leaders out of bondage. Elijah and the prophets prophesied about the wrath to come if people didn’t change their ways. Both were called to do dangerous work. Both appeared before Jesus and were witnessed by new followers, Peter, James and John, who were also called to do dangerous work. As you are Christian, you too are called to step out of your comfort zone and follow God’s call for the benefit of others.
Many Episcopal parishes will switch to Rite One on Ash Wednesday, this coming Wednesday, and during Lent for Sunday Services in Lent. We will use the early English language. This is the Church in its purest form. It is not about the market, or sales, or whatever the seasonal thing is. It is about the cloud of unknowing filling in gaps of understanding and providing reconciliation and opportunities for repentance.
Just a few sentences down in Luke’s account of the Gospel in our reading for today, we will be informed by that cloud, that Jesus is God’s beloved son and that we are to “listen to him.” And listening in this context means obeying. And Jesus says for us to “Follow Him.”
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: Collect for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany (BCP p. 217)
O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 