THE PRAYERS,
Transfiguration of Our Lord, Cycle A (February 23, 2020)
Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.
A brief silence
Holy Lord, Holy and Mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us! In the transfiguration of Jesus, we see your glory. And we see what a human being, immersed in you, will look like. Thank you for this “doubled vision.” Thank you for showing us that Jesus truly is all in all. Thank you for his suffering and death, which transfigures our own. Thank you for the vision of his holy glory, which he so lovingly pours upon all who cling to him in faith.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Transfigure your Church. Make it a lamp, radiating the splendor of your beloved Son’s light and life. Make it a place where poor sinful mortals may eat and drink in your presence, and live. Make it a place where cleverly devised myths are confounded by the glorious truth of the Gospel. Make it a place where all may come, and be fashioned into the very image and likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Transfigure this congregation: its people and programs; its decisions and vision; its worship, service, and fellowship. Make our every word and action like clear crystal, through which the radiance of Jesus’ love shines unimpeded upon everyone we meet.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Transfigure the suffering of your persecuted Church, by uniting it to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Give it grace to speak truth and offer forgiveness to its enemies. Transfigure the ministries of seminaries, missionaries, and sister congregations and synods, that all they say and do points to Jesus and his strong saving love.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Transfigure this world, so that the sacrifices of those who stand in harm’s way to protect us may not be in vain. Let their actions shine with valor and honor; and grant them healing when they fall, and joy when they return home.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Transfigure this death-shadowed world; its people; and its leaders. Enlighten minds to seek your truth, and purify hearts to delight in doing your will. Turn us from being enemies of you, of one another, and of our own eternal good. Transfigure us into your loyal subjects, sisters and brothers to one another, wise stewards of creation, and lovers of your Beloved.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Transfigure the lives of all who sit in the shadows of suffering and sorrow – especially: {List}. Grant that Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, may rise upon them with healing in his wings. Let sorrow be turned to joy; fear into hope; and despair into faith in your love.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, we entrust our beloved dead into your care, knowing that you have transfigured their death into life, their sin and brokenness into holiness, and their limits into unbounded delight in your infinite wisdom and goodness. We humbly beseech you to transfigure each of us into the likeness of Christ. Speed the coming of that day when he shall be all in all. Grant that when we look upon the face of any whom you have redeemed through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we see his love alone, shining in their eyes.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
All these things, and whatever else you see that we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
