Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.    Mark 9 : 2 - 3

Readings this week :  2 Kings 2 : 1 - 12; 2 Corinthians 4 : 3 - 6; Mark 9 : 2 - 9

Thought for this week

Th stained glass window, in the image for this article, is situated in St Luke’s Chapel in Norwich Cathedral. It was actually removed from St Peter’s Ringland at some stage, and transferred to the cathedral in December 1917. The window had come into the ownership of Leonard Bolingbroke, whose son, Russell, had been killed in WW1 at sea two weeks before his 21st birthday, in April 1917. Leonard, his father, was Chapter Steward, and he offered the window to the Cathedral.

The window depicts the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus. While the figures are indistinct, what is clear are the rays of glory that emanate from the Mother and child. While we don’t know the whole story, it is so poignant that this window was given amidst a family’s grief. A reminder how the Lord’s glory occupies and transcends all our suffering and grief. It speaks beyond our earthly lives, of the Lord’s love, of His grace, and of eternity.

Whilst there is so much grief in the world today, our Gospel reading is of Jesus being Transfigured before three of His disciples, revealing His glory amidst the pain of the world. This is the truth today of who Jesus is. When so much seems overwhelming, we are called to look to the one who is ‘The radiance of the glory of God’ (Hebrews 1 : 3) 

Rev Paul

Prayer for this week

Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross:

give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;

who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen