Welcome to Two Worlds!
(Year A: Transfiguration Sunday)
“The same thing should happen here in the Christian Church; none other should be preached or taught except the Son of God alone. Of Him alone it is said, ‘This is My beloved Son; listen to Him’ (Matthew 17:5) and no other, be he emperor, pope, or cardinal. Therefore, this is what I say: I grant that emperor, pope, cardinals, princes, and nobles are wise and understanding, but I shall believe in Christ. He is my Lord. He is the one God bids me to listen to. From Him He bids me to learn what real, divine wisdom and understanding are.” (Martin Luther, 15 February 1546)
INTRODUCTION
“Listen to him!” lands with force. Scripture’s mountaintop moments — think Moses on Sinai, Abraham on Moriah, Elijah on Carmel, to name a few — form the backdrop for the Transfiguration, where Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up the mountain and stands before them in blazing light. His face shines like the sun, his clothes radiate, Moses and Elijah appear, and the cloud’s voice names him: “This is my Son, the Beloved… listen to him.” Jesus then steadies the startled disciples and guides them back down into the world. That same command surfaced again centuries later in Martin Luther’s final sermon, preached in Eisleben three days before his death. Weakened by illness yet unwavering in conviction, he urged his hearers to center their lives in Christ alone — Sola Christus — not as a slogan but as a way of seeing. The mountain and the pulpit converge in that summons: light that reorients, a voice that cuts through every rival claim, and a call to follow the one who transforms us and sends us back into the world carrying that light.
Welcome to Two Worlds, and thanks for stopping by. Each week this space offers a bit of grounding for the four readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. As Epiphany draws to a close, it’s worth noticing the arc of the season: it opens with the Magi following a star to the Christ child and ends with the dazzling vision on Mount Tabor. And with that, we stand at the threshold of Lent, ready to enter the unfolding drama of the story ahead.
I utilized a reflection by Professor John T. Pless from the 1517 Website for the information regarding Luther’s final sermon.
After completing the full three‑year Revised Common Lectionary cycle begun in February 2023, I’m shifting this blog to a refreshed format. Much will feel familiar, but a few new features stand out.
First, the Table of Contents on the right now helps you navigate the site. Second, the scripture readings are linked for quick access. Third, a new section — Going Beyond — offers additional resources to deepen your engagement.
The blog remains a work in progress, and any errors are mine.
The Readings
Exodus 24: 12-18
Psalm 2
2 Peter 1: 16-21
Matthew 17: 1-9
The readings are linked.
Themes and Connections
The Transfiguration readings center on God revealing divine glory and naming the beloved Son as the one we are called to hear. Sinai’s fire, Psalm 2’s royal claim, and 2 Peter’s witness all converge in the radiance of Christ. That revelation sends the disciples—and the church—back into the world shaped by what they have seen and heard.
Try the Four-Question Approach to the Readings
What is something NEW?
What is something that made you REFLECT?
What is something that RELATES to prior knowledge?
What is something you would like to further DISCUSS?
The readings are drawn from the Bible Gateway website and are the NRSVUE edition. I utilize Co-Pilot to assist with summarizing themes among the readings.
Image of the Week
This Week’s Commemoration
Saturday 14 February
Cyril (d.869) and Methodius (d.885) were ninth‑century brothers whose mission to the Slavic peoples shaped the religious and cultural landscape of Eastern Europe. They created the first Slavic alphabet and translated Scripture and liturgy so people could worship in their own language. Their work eventually gave rise to the Cyrillic script and established a lasting vernacular Christian tradition. Both East and West honor them as saints who embodied a generous, culturally rooted vision of the gospel.
Musical Meditation: “I Am Light” (India Arie)
India Arie’s “I Am Light” reminds me of Matthew’s Transfiguration account because both name a transformation rooted in God’s love rather than in human striving. On the mountain, Jesus’ radiance reveals the truth already alive in him, and that revelation becomes a promise for us: in Christ, God’s love reshapes who we are and how we see ourselves. Both the gospel moment and the song remind us that this light is not meant to stay on the mountain; we carry it with us as we return to the world, living out the transformation God has begun.
I hope you will enjoy this interpretation of the song performed by the Vancouver Youth Choir!
The Vancouver Youth Choir is one of Canada’s most acclaimed youth choral organizations, known for its high artistic standards and inclusive community. Founded in 2013 by artistic director Carrie Tennant, it now includes more than 700 singers ages 5–24 across multiple ensembles and is recognized for adventurous programming and innovative performances. The flagship choir has earned national and international attention, with highlights that include first prize in the Canadian National Choral Competition and appearances at major festivals and venues such as the IFCM World Symposium on Choral Music and Carnegie Hall.
Visit Their Website for More Information
Prayer (Collect) for Transfiguration Sunday
O God, in the transfiguration of your Son you confirmed the mysteries of the faith by witnesses of Moses and Elijah, and in the voice from the bright cloud declaring Jesus your beloved Son, you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us heirs with Christ of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fulness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Some background . . .
The collects in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) come from a blend of historic and ecumenical sources. Most are rooted in the classic Western liturgical tradition — especially the ancient Latin sources — and many were carried forward through the Lutheran Reformation into later hymnals. Others were shaped or newly crafted through the modern ecumenical work of the Consultation on Common Texts and the ELW worship committees, who adapted traditional prayers and composed new ones for clarity, theological coherence, and contemporary use.
Going Beyond
Further Exploration
Richard Lischer is an author and professor emeritus at the Duke Divinity School. In the following essay, he provides great insights into the Transfiguration story.
Access it here.
Luther’s FINAL SERMON is worth your time. The last paragraph is especially personal — realize he died three days later.
Access it here.
Access the Homepage of Two Worlds here
(linked to the picture).
I offer more background there and also the entire archive of the first three years.
Join Us for Worship and Study
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and is part of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin (ELCA). We stream our Sunday worship at 9:30 each week. Please feel free to join us!
Access our YouTube Channel here.
Also, join us Sunday for in-person discussion of the Lectionary in the church library from 10:45-11:00. All are welcome!
