The Transfiguration by Sanzio Raffaello, 1518-20, Oil on Wood at the Pinacoteca, Vatican

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder, Jackie Rose, was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below are being kept up to date.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, February 23 are from the Lectionary Year A The Last Sunday after Epiphany: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2 or Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21 and Matthew 17:1-9. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New International Version.

Exodus 24:12-18

¹² 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 commandments I have written for their instruction.” ¹³ Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. ¹⁴ 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.”

¹⁵ When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. ¹⁸ Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Psalm 2

¹ Why do the nations conspire
     and the peoples plot in vain?

² The kings of the earth rise up
     and the rulers band together
     against the LORD and against his anointed,

saying, ³ “Let us break their chains
     and throw off their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
     the Lord scoffs at them.

⁵ He rebukes them in his anger
     and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

⁶ “I have installed my king on Zion,
     my holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:
     He said to me, “You are my son;
     today I have become your father.

⁸ Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
     the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
     you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
     be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear
     and celebrate his rule with trembling.

¹² Kiss his son, or he will be angry
     and your way will lead to your destruction,
     for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

or Psalm 99

¹ The LORD reigns,
     let the nations tremble;
     he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
     let the earth shake.

² Great is the LORD in Zion;
     he is exalted over all the nations.

³ Let them praise your great and awesome name—
     he is holy.

⁴ The King is mighty, he loves justice—
     you have established equity;
     in Jacob you have done what is just and right.

⁵ Exalt the LORD our God
     and worship at his footstool;
     he is holy.

⁶ 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.

⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
     they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

⁸ LORD our God, you answered them;
     you were to Israel a forgiving God,
     though you punished their misdeeds.

⁹ Exalt the LORD our God
     and worship at his holy mountain,
     for the LORD our God is holy.

2 Peter 1:16-21

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ 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.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, 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. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 17:1-9

¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. ⁴ 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.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ 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.”

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.