Today’s reading, Luke 9:28-36, is for Transfiguration Sunday, February 27, 2022. The title of this podcast is “Divine Intervention.” God chose and sent Jesus to usher in the kingdom of God through his own death and resurrection. Which means that Jesus knew all about politics, wars, and violence. To navigate a way forward, Jesus relies on prayer, solitude, scriptures, old mentors, and new friends. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and encourage each one of us through whatever uncertainties and fears we may be facing. Please open your Bible to Luke 9:28-36. I want to begin, though, with a prayer for peace:

Dear God, as we open your word today, fill us with your Spirit, so that we can receive your instruction and do as you command. Forgive our warring ways, O God, and lead us in the ways that lead to peace in our hearts and in our world. Amen.

Luke 9:[22-27]28-36

[And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”]

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

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And with our prayers, we work for justice and peace everywhere. The Lutheran Church has agencies around the world, including Ukraine. I’ve included links to a couple of good humanitarian organizations here: Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran World Federation. Listen to Jesus. Grieve the suffering in our world. And don’t forget to pray.

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