Second Sunday of Lent

The Old Testament Reading for the Second Sunday of Lent is the Binding of Isaac from Genesis Chapter 22.

The Gospel Reading was the Transfiguration of the Lord from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 9.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him."


Abraham was asked to sacrifice his beloved son, the son of the promise.  In faith, Abraham obeyed but God  spared his son.  For love of the world God sacrificed His beloved son, the true son of the promise.  Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son prefigures God's sacrifice of Christ on cross.

COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT: O GOD, WHO HAVE COMMANDED US TO LISTEN TO YOUR BELOVED SON, BE PLEASED, WE PRAY, TO NOURISH US INWARDLY BY YOUR WORD, THAT, WITH SPIRITUAL SIGHT MADE PURE, WE MAY REJOICE TO BEHOLD YOUR GLORY. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.

Feast of the Transfiguration

Today, August 6th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

From the Gospel of Luke (from the readings in The Book of Common Prayer):

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of the those things which they had seen.

COLLECT: O GOD, WHO ON THE MOUNT DIDST REVEAL TO CHOSEN WITNESSES THINE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON WONDERFULLY TRANSFIGURED IN RAIMENT WHITE AND GLISTERING; MERCIFULLY GRANT THAT WE, BEING DELIVERED FROM THE DISQUIETUDE OF THIS WORLD, MAY BE PERMITTED TO BEHOLD THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY, WHO WITH THEE, O FATHER, AND THEE, O HOLY GHOST, LIVETH AND REIGNETH, ONE GOD, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN.

The Transfiguration of the Lord

Transfiguration Sunday

From DIVINE INTIMACY BY Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.:

"Today's Gospel brings out the close connection between the Transfiguration and the Passion of Jesus. Moses and Elias appeared on Thabor on either side of the Savior. They conversed with Him, and as St. Luke explains, talked specifically about His coming Passion: "They spoke of His decease, that He should accomplish in Jerusalem." (Luke 9:31).

The Divine Master wished to teach His disciples in this way that it was impossible - for Him as well as for them - to reach the glory of the Transfiguration without passing through suffering. It was the same lesson that He would give later to the two disciples at Emmaus: "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so to enter into His glory?" (Luke 24:26). What has been disfigured by sin cannot regain its original supernatural beauty except by way of purifying suffering."