23 Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr of Smyrna, 156 was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna.[1] According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to consume his body.[2] Polycarp is regarded as a saint and Church Father in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. His name means "much fruit" in Greek.
24 Saint Matthias the Apostle chosen by the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following the latter's betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent death.[1] His calling as an apostle is unique, in that his appointment was not made personally by Jesus, who had already ascended into heaven, and it was also made before the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church.
25 John Roberts, Priest, 1949
26 Emily Malbone Morgan, Prophetic Witness, 1937
27 George Herbert, priest, 1633 was a Welsh-born poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. His poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognised as "one of the foremost British devotional lyricists.
28 Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, 1964, and Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, 1904, Educators

OLD TESTAMENT   Exodus 24: 12 - 18   (RCL)

Exod 24:12 (NRSV) 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." 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 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."
15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.


OLD TESTAMENT: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18   (alt. for Can. BAS)
                                   Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18   (Roman Catholic)

19:1 (NRSV) The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
  2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10Y ou shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.
  11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord.
  13 You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. 14 You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
  15 You shall not render an unjust judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
  17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.


PSALM 2   (RCL)

Psal 2:1 (NRSV) Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and his anointed, saying,
3 "Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us."
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the LORD has them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 "I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill."
7 I will tell of the decree of the LORD
He said to me, "You are my son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron,
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
with trembling 12 kiss his feet,
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Happy are all who take refuge in him.


2   Quare fremuerunt gentes?     (ECUSA BCP)

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

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

3 “Let us break their yoke,” they say; *
  “let us cast off their bonds from us.”

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

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

6 “I myself have set my king *
  upon my holy hill of Zion.”

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

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

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

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

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

12 Lest he be angry and you perish; *
  for his wrath is quickly kindled.
13  Happy are they all *
  who take refuge in him!


Psalm 99   (alt. for RCL)

Psal 99:1 (NRSV) The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The LORD is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name.
Holy is he!
4 Mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Extol the LORD our God;
worship at his footstool.
Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called on his name.
They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
they kept his decrees,
and the statutes that he gave them.
8 O LORD our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Extol the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy.


99   Dominus regnavit   (ECUSA BCP)

1  The Lord is King;
let the people tremble; *
  he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
  let the earth shake.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


119   (alt. for Can. BAS)

33  Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, *
  and I shall keep it to the end.

34  Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *
  I shall keep it with all my heart.

35  Make me go in the path of your commandments, *
  for that is my desire.

36  Incline my heart to your decrees *
  and not to unjust gain.

37  Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *
  give me life in your ways.

38  Fulfill your promise to your servant, *
  which you make to those who fear you.

39  Turn away the reproach which I dread, *
  because your judgments are good.

40  Behold, I long for your commandments; *
  in your righteousness preserve my life.


NEW TESTAMENT   2 Peter 1: 16 - 21   (RCL)

2Pet 1:16 (NRSV) 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. 17 For he received honor 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." 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 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. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The author has written that God, ultimate “goodness” (v. 3), “who called us”, has given us everything we need for eternal life. What Jesus promised to us is our means of escaping the “corruption” (v. 4) of this world and of attaining union with God. So, he says, our faith and knowledge of Christ should result in ethical living, “mutual affection” (v. 7) and love. If we have these qualities and if they grow in us, they will save us from being ineffectual and “unfruitful” (v. 8) in doing Christ’s work. If we don’t have them, we are “nearsighted and blind” (v. 9) and have forgotten the release from sin we obtained in baptism. So be steadfast in the faith; being thus will gain us entry into Christ’s kingdom (v. 11). This letter is written as Peter’s last testament as he approaches death, instructions he leaves to remind his readers of how to remember to be faithful. (vv. 12-15).

Now he speaks of the Transfiguration. While others (false teachers) have used “cleverly devised myths” (v. 16, deceitful lies to deceive members of the community: see 2:1-3), the author was an “eyewitness” to the event, one which showed the power of God and was a preview of Christ’s second “coming”. At that time, Jesus “received honour and glory from God the Father” (v. 17) when the heavenly voice identified him as “‘my Son, my Beloved ...’”. (The “Majestic Glory” is the Father.) Old Testament prophets (“prophetic message”, v. 19) foretold the coming of the Messiah at the end of time; the Transfiguration more fully confirms this. Dear readers, hold to (“be attentive to”) this hope in these times of corruption and false teachers – until the Second Coming (“until the day dawns”) and Christ, “the morning star”, assumes sovereignty.

Vv. 20-21 make two points:

scripture should be interpreted in the community, not on “one’s own”, and
true prophets,
in every age, are empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak for God; they do not prophesy of their own volition.


Verses 5-7: Faith should lead to Christian virtues: see also Romans 5:2-5 and 1 Corinthians 13:13. Note the progression: “faith” to “goodness” ( REB: virtue) to “knowledge” to “self-control” to “endurance” ( REB: fortitude) to “godliness” ( REB: piety) to “mutual affection” ( REB: brotherly affection) to “love”. [ NOAB]

For: See also:
“knowledge” 2 Corinthians 6:6; 8:7
“self-control” 1 Corinthians 7:9; 9:25; Galatians 5:23
“endurance” 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 3:10; Titus 2:2; Revelation 2:19
“godliness” 1 Timothy 6:11
“mutual affection” Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 3:8
“love” 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:14; 1 Timothy 4:12; 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22; 3:10; Titus 2:2; Revelation 2:19 [ CAB]
Verse 5: “faith”: To NJBC, true doctrine is meant.

Verses 8-11: The author contrasts those who act in accord with true faith and those who do not. [ NJBC]

Verse 9: “the cleansing of past sins”: See also Acts 22:16 (Ananias counsels Paul to “get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away”); 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5. [ CAB]

Verse 10: “be all the more eager to confirm your call and election”: See also 1 Corinthians 1:26-27. 1 Peter 2:9 says: “... you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”. [ CAB]

Verse 11: “the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”: Colossians 1:13 says: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son”. This is given expression in the Creed of Nicea-Constantinople (known as the Nicene Creed, 381 AD) in the words We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ ... his kingdom will have no end . Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God: see Mark 10:15 (“whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it”) and John 3:3 (“no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above”). [ NOAB] [ JBC]

Comments: This letter is written as Peter's last testament: Both Jews and Greeks knew of a testament genre: for example, Socrates’ statement in Plato’s Apology , Moses (Deuteronomy 32-34), Joshua (Joshua 24), Jesus (John 13-17 and Luke 22:14-36), Paul (Acts 20:17-35). [ NJBC]

Verse 13: “body”: Literally, tent: a temporary dwelling. [ JBC]

Verse 14: “as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me”: Perhaps a reference to John 21:18-19. [ CAB]

Verses 16-18: Apostolic tradition is not a collection of myths, but is based on the experience of eyewitnesses. The Transfiguration confirms the tradition that Christ will return in glory: see Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36. [ NOAB]

Verse 16: See also 1 Timothy 1:4 (“myths and endless genealogies”); 4:7 (“profane myths and old wives' tales”); 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14. [ CAB]

Verse 16: “cleverly devised myths”: 2:1-3 says: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Even so, many will follow their licentious ways, and because of these teachers the way of truth will be maligned. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep”.

Verse 17: “Majestic Glory”: Majesty and glory are both common epithets for God: see also Hebrews 1:3 (Christ is “the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being”); 8:1; Testament of Levi 3:4. God’s voice also has these attributes: see Psalm 29:4 and Sirach 17:13.

Verse 17: “‘This is my Son ...’”: This quotation is from Mark 9:7 (Jesus’ transfiguration); Matthew 17:5; Luke 9:35. [ CAB]

Verse 18: “the holy mountain”: See also Mark 9:2-8; Matthew 17:1-8; Luke 9:28-36, all of which speak of Jesus leading Peter, James and John up a mountain. [ CAB]

Verse 19: The Patristic writers see Jesus’ prediction that some would not taste death until they saw the coming of God’s kingdom as fulfilled in the vision of Jesus’ power and glory at the Transfiguration; however some almost contemporary writings, such as the Apocalypse of Peter, see the Transfiguration itself as a prophecy of Jesus’ second coming, not a fulfilment of an earlier prophecy. It is in the sense of prophecy of the Second Coming that the author of 2 Peter speaks of “the prophetic message”. [ NJBC]

Verse 19: “more”: Hellenistic Greek often uses a word meaning “more” to mean very . Vv. 17-18 represent the very best prophecy of Jesus’ Second Coming. [ NJBC]

Verse 19: “ a lamp shining in a dark place”: See also Mark 4:21 and John 5:35 (said by Jesus, of John the Baptiser). [ CAB]

Verse 19: “until the day dawns”: In Luke 1:78, Zechariah, John the Baptizer’s father, says: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”.

Verse 19: “the morning star”: In Balaam’s oracle (for Balak, Numbers 24:17), we read: “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel”. See also Revelation 2:28. Revelation 22:16 says: “‘It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star’”. [ NJBC]

Verses 20-21: In the Old Testament, prophecies when rightly understood were uncomfortable, even threatening: see Jeremiah 6:14 and Ezekiel 13:10. The false teachers whom the author censures are like Israel’s false prophets (see 2:1), who have neither received God’s challenging word nor understood it; for example, they twist Paul’s words on the topic under discussion (see 3:15-16). [ NJBC] See also 1 Corinthians 14:29.

Verse 21: “from God”: Unlike the false teachers, the author claims inspiration from God both in his receipt of the prophecy concerning the Second Coming and his exposition of it. [ NJBC]




GOSPEL   Matthew 17: 1 - 9   (RCL)

Matt 17:1 (NRSV) Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Eli'jah, talking with him. 4 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 Eli'jah." 5 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!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9 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." 10 And the disciples asked him, "Why, then, do the scribes say that Eli'jah must come first?"

Jesus has told his disciples that “the Son of Man is to come ... in the glory of his Father ... There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see ... [him] coming in his kingdom” ( 16:27-28). Now he and the inner circle of disciples ascend a mountain. Jesus is “transfigured” (v. 2, given an unearthly appearance). An aura of unnatural brightness is linked with mystical appearances in Exodus and Acts; “dazzling white” is a symbol of transcendence. In Jewish tradition, both “Moses and Elijah” (v. 3) were taken into heaven without dying; here Moses represents the Law and Elijah the prophets. Both are associated with Mount Sinai. Peter recognizes Jesus as “Lord” (v. 4), both earthly and heavenly sovereign. In his suggestion of making “dwellings” he thinks of Sinai, for dwellings (booths) were erected on the Feast of Tabernacles, commemorating the events there, and a time when the city was brightly lit. On Sinai too a “bright cloud” (v. 5) symbolized God’s presence. The words spoken by the voice recall Jesus’ baptism and add “‘listen to him’”: Jesus is not only God’s Son and his Chosen, but also the prophet God promised to Moses.

Early Christians knew the book of Daniel well. Vv. 6-7 would tell them that this “vision” (v. 9) is linked to the end times: see Daniel 8:17 (where “mortal” is son of man in the Hebrew). Moses and Elijah vanish into insignificance, leaving Jesus alone. The Church Fathers saw the Transfiguration as fulfilling Jesus’ prediction that some would not die until they had seen the coming of God’s kingdom; others saw the event as a prophecy of the Second Coming.

© 1996-2020 Chris Haslam

The parallels are Mark 9:2-8 and Luke 9:28-36. [ NOAB]

This passage reaffirms the messiahship of Jesus and of the messianic glory in which he will be revealed. [ NJBC]

Verse 1: “Peter and James and his brother John”: The same inner circle is mentioned in 26:37 and Mark 5:37. [ NJBC]

Verse 1: “a high mountain”: This may be symbolic; if a particular mountain is meant, it is probably Mount Hermon, near Caesarea Philippi. It rises to about 2,750 metres (9,000 feet). Other possibilities are Mount Carmel and Mount Tabor.

Comments: An aura of unnatural brightness is linked with mystical appearances in Exodus and Acts: See, for example, Exodus 34:29 (Moses’ face shines after he has been talking with God on Mount Sinai), 35; Acts 9:3 (Paul’s conversion). [ NJBC]

Verse 3: “Moses and Elijah”: The Law and the prophets often stand for the whole of the Old Testament. The presence of these two men symbolises the fullness of God’s revelation to Israel. Deuteronomy 34:6 tells us that “no one knows his [Moses’] burial place to this day”. Jewish tradition therefore said that Moses was taken directly into heaven without dying. 2 Kings 2:17 tells us of Elijah: “fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him”. Jewish tradition stretched this verse and the story in the preceding verses to saying that Elijah was taken into heaven without dying. [ HBD]

Verse 4: “dwellings”: For the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths), see Leviticus 23:42 and Nehemiah 8:14-18. [ NJBC]

Verse 5: “cloud”: In a cloud, God comes to declare the Law to Moses; he speaks from a cloud as he does here. See Exodus 19:9; 24:15-16.

Verse 5: “‘This is my Son ...’”: For the words the voice from heaven speaks at Jesus’ baptism, see 3:17. Here the words spoken are based on three verses:

Psalm 2:7: “I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have begotten you’”
Isaiah 42:1: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”
Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses says: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet”. [ NJBC]
Verses 6-7: Daniel is the only apocalyptic book in the Old Testament. Daniel 8:17 says: “So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I became frightened and fell prostrate. But he said to me, ‘Understand, O mortal, that the vision is for the time of the end.’”. Daniel 10:9-10 says: “Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a trance, face to the ground. But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees.”

Verse 9: For applications of this event to the destiny of Christians, see Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18. See also 2 Peter 1:16-18; 2 Timothy 1:8, 10. [ NJBC]

Verses 10-13: Based on Malachi 4:5, coupled with Malachi 3:1, “the scribes”, the scholars of the Pharisaic sect, taught that Elijah must return to prepare for Yahweh’s final judgement. But Peter has now identified Jesus as the messiah (Christ); Jesus is about to suffer, die, rise (see 21:21) and carry out the final judgment (see 16:27). So, if the end times are so near, is it not too late for Elijah’s preparatory ministry? [ BlkMt]

Verse 10: “Elijah”: See Malachi 4:5-6 (3:23-24 in some bibles) for the expectation that God would send Elijah before Judgement Day, “the terrible day of the Lord”. [ NJBC]

Verse 10: “come first”: Daniel 12:2 tells of the general resurrection of the deceased: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”. More probably, the question is about the raising of the Son of Man from the dead.

Verse 11: Jesus quotes the expectation of the scribes, and states his position in v. 12. He affirms their expectation and says (in v. 12) that they (or people in general) have failed to recognize that “Elijah has already come”: “John the Baptist” (v. 13) is Elijah. [ BlkMt]

Verse 12: See 1 Kings 19:2, 10; Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:3. [ NJBC]

Verse 13: John the Baptist has already been identified with Elijah: Jesus says in 11:14 “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come”. [ NJBC]

© 1996-2020 Chris Haslam