460. Twenty-seventh Sunday after Trinity. I.
Teach us, O Lord, that without the cross
there can be no crown.
Gospel Lesson, Matthew 17, 1-9. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and, behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead.
❦
The Savior is given an hour of rest as preparation for his great passion; and the disciples are permitted to see his glory before witnessing his struggle in Gethsemane. On the mountain his divinity shines out through the servant form which he had assumed, and reveals that he who suffers is in the bosom of the Father; in the garden it is hid by tears and the sweat of blood, and reveals itself only in his perfect obedience. All the disciples of Jesus follow him; but some follow him more closely than do the others, and hence are lifted up to greater heights, and thrust down to greater depths of joy and suffering. His life here below was labor and pain; but there were some bright hours in between. Last Sunday’s gospel lesson, for instance, speaks of one such occasion of special joy; and he found rest daily in praying to the Father; and his soul rejoiced whenever hearts opened to receive the word of life. In like manner his Christians also must take up the cross, and experience many sorrows; but they likewise have their hours of happiness, giving them a foretaste of the life eternal. However, as not all are able to go farther into Gethsemane, so neither are all permitted to be with the Savior on Tabor. Some may at times be so distinctly conscious of the Lord’s presence and of the powers of the world to come, that if it should continue, they would no more be in the world; they are so happy that they forget all suffering; they may speak with God by the hour, and it seems to them but a moment; in their soul is a rapture beyond utterance, a union of holy fear and the delight of love, which surpasses all understanding. But this experience is not common to all believers; and therefore you must not make it the test of your own state of grace and that of others. Neither shall you ask God to give you a greater measure of such happiness than so much as he sees that you are able to bear. Nevertheless, every Christian shall experience that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; that the love of God is precious, and that his word is sweet. Every Christian is permitted to come to God in prayer, and learn that a day in the courts of the Lord is better than a thousand; and every Christian will have special seasons of joy more refreshing than the daily tenor of his life. For we at times need such a lifting up, in order that the mind may not faint under its burden, but be refreshed after the struggle, and be strengthened to undergo new trials; for which reason God has also granted us our ever recurring Sunday and our festival seasons. — Peter wished to build tabernacles on Tabor; as who would not? But the Lord did not bring you up into the mountain, dear friend, to let you now make your home there with him, but to enable you to go with him through the valley of Cedron without losing your faith. There is greater danger in joy than in sorrow. Yet we must taste the cup of joy, in order that our sufferings may be a benefit to us; for without an occasional sojourn on Tabor, without such seasons of joy, after the measure which each may be able to bear, we would succumb in the time of trouble. Follow Jesus more closely every hour; and your joys and sorrows will become more intense, and you will be transfigured after his likeness from glory to glory.
Lord, when shall I see thee in thy glory, and praise thee as I ought, thou light of all the heavens and fullness of all beauty? How long shall I walk in this wilderness, ere I reach the city of thy habitation, and see thee as thou art? Give me a clear spiritual eye to see thee; and give me now and then a foretaste of thy salvation; that I may not become weary, but may serve thee faithfully, and patiently bear whatever of suffering thou dost impose on me, and rejoice in the blessed hope of seeing thee face to face. Yet, O Lord, it is not mine to say what thou shalt do. Lead me, faithful God, according to thine own counsel; grant that I may never desire to rid myself of thy cross, but may ever more gladly carry it after thee; and receive me at last into thy glory. Amen.*
Lord, guide me in thy secret way;
With such a guide I shall not stray;
Bring me into a heavenly frame,
Unite my heart to fear thy name.
O King of nations, Lord of all,
Before thee shall all nations fall;
And every language shall confess
Thy glorious everlastingness!
461. Twenty-seventh Sunday after Trinity. II.
Lord, let thy word stir us up,
that we walk henceforth
with living concern
for our souls’ salvation. Amen.
Epistle Lesson, 2 Peter 1, 12-18. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover, I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
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Saint Peter continued unto the last to be as fervent as ever in spirit, and as zealous for the piety and the salvation of the brethren. The years did not impair his mind, nor weaken his zeal. Even now, with death near at hand, he is as full of fire as on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit for the first time came upon him. This is as it should be. It is a sad thing when Christians with the lapse of time become lukewarm, and let the inner man grow old with the body; something which not rarely happens, especially in the case of such as have been suddenly converted, and have displayed extravagant zeal in the beginning of their Christian life. They become vain or lax; either of which conditions impairs their spiritual strength, and easily leads to their falling from grace. — As Paul in his life demonstrated whose devoted servant he was in faith, so Peter also and the other apostles. To this end the transfiguration on the mount had been of great importance; for it proves conclusively that the glory of God dwelt in Jesus while he was in the form of a servant; thus making it sure beyond a doubt that the man Jesus, who delivers himself up to death, is God’s only begotten, beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. It is this positive faith which makes Peter so energetic and robust even on the brink of the grave. He urges us to follow him herein; and in the chapter before us he mentions two things which shall surely help us to do this: 1) Heed the light of God’s word; then shall the Spirit give you the assurance that Jesus has earned for you everlasting life, and has given you divine power to obtain victory over sin. 2) Strive with all diligence to lead the life of faith in holiness; whereto grace and strength are given you in the promises of God. So shall you “make your calling and election sure”; and “so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The apostle has endeavored that we may be able after his decease to have these things always in remembrance. Shall not we, then, also make this endeavor?
Lord Jesus, help us to do this. Lead us with thee through thy death. Let everything which is displeasing to thee be crucified. Be with us through life, and take us to heaven when we die. We ask it in thine own name. Amen.*
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets,
Before we reach the heavenly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.
Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground
To fairer worlds on high.
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.