Scripture Readings

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Transfiguration Sunday
For Year A

The color for Transfiguration Sunday is white or gold

Scripture readings are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

The readings for Ash Wednesday

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading

Old Testament

     The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.”
     Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
     When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
—Exodus 24:12-18, NIV

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Psalm

Why do the nations conspire
     and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand
     and the rulers gather together
     against the LORD
     and against his Anointed One.
“Let us break their chains,” they say,
     “and throw off their fetters.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
     the Lord scoffs at them.
Then he rebukes them in his anger
     and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my King
     on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
     He said to me, “You are my Son;
     today I have become your Father.
Ask of me,
     and I will make the nations your inheritance,
     the ends of the earth your possession.
You will rule them with an iron scepter;
     you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise;
     be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear
     and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
     and you be destroyed in your way,
     for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
—Psalm 2, NIV

—OR—

The LORD reigns,
     let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
     let the earth shake.
Great is the LORD in Zion;
     he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name—
     he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice—
     you have established equity;
          in Jacob you have done
          what is just and right.
Exalt the LORD our God
     and worship at his footstool;
          he is holy.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
     Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the LORD
     and he answered them.
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
     they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.
O LORD our God,
     you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
     though you punished their misdeeds.
Exalt the LORD our God
     and worship at his holy mountain,
          for the LORD our God is holy.
—Psalm 99, NIV

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Epistle

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit
—2 Peter 1:16-21, NIV

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Gospel

     After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
     While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
     When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
     As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
—Matthew 17:1-9, NIV

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