Sunday, February 19^th, 2023

Last Sunday after the Epiphany (Green)

Readings
EXODUS 24:12-18; PSALM 2 OR PSALM 99; 2 PETER 1:16-21; MATTHEW 17:1-9

Collect
Almighty God,
on the holy mount you revealed to chosen witnesses
your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured:
mercifully deliver us from the darkness of this world,
and change us into his likeness from glory to glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF EXODUS
The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them." Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
EXODUS 24:12-18

Psalm
REFRAIN God has exalted his anointed.

Why are the nations in an uproar? Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?

Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt, and the princes plot together, against the Lord and against his Anointed? R

"Let us break their yoke," they say; "let us cast off their bonds from us."

He whose throne is in heaven is laughing; the Lord has them in derision. R

Then he speaks to them in his wrath, and his rage fills them with terror.

"I myself have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." R

Let me announce the decree of the Lord: he said to me, "You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.

Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.

You shall crush them with an iron rod and shatter them like a piece of
pottery." R

And now, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

Submit to the Lord with fear, and with trembling bow before him; R

Lest he be angry and you perish; for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are they all who take refuge in him! R
PSALM 2

Or

PSALM
The Lord is king; let the people tremble; he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.

The Lord is great in Zion; he is high above all peoples.

Let them confess his name, which is great and awesome; he is the Holy One.

"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."

Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One.

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his name, they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.

He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.

"O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds."

Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
PSALM 99

Second Reading
A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTER OF PETER
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2 PETER 1:16-21

Gospel
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
MATTHEW 17:1-9

Prayer over the Gifts
Holy God,
receive all we offer you this day,
and bring us to that radiant glory
which we see in the transfigured face
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer After Communion
Holy God,
we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
May we who are partakers of his table
reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know
his power to change and save.
We ask this in his name.