THE PRAYERS, February 19, 2023: The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Exodus 24:8-18 (The 70 elders and Moses on the mountain with God)
Psalm 2:6-12 (You are my Son, today have I begotten you; tremble, O nations, before him!)
RCL: Psalm 2, complete
2 Peter 1:16-21 (We do not follow cleverly devised myths; we are eyewitnesses to God’s glory in Christ as he was transfigured before us)
Matthew 17:1-9 (The Transfiguration account)
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 everyone joint to Jesus will be like. Thank you for this “double 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 glory, which he 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 your beloved Son’s light and life. Make it a place where sinful mortals 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 to be fashioned into the 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. Unite 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, spiritual directors, so all they say and do points to Jesus.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Transfigure the sacrifices of those who for our sake stand in harm’s way. Let their actions shine with honor. 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 bless you because you have transfigured the death of your faithful servants. You have turned their death into life, their sin and pain into holy health, and their limitations into delight in your infinite goodness. We humbly beseech you: transfigure each of us into Jesus’ image. Even now, make him our all in all. Speed the day when we gaze into the faces of your redeemed people, and see Jesus smiling back at us forever.
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.
