For the student: Read along, fill in the blanks, and write your answers on the lines. Your parent has the answers.
Step 1 · Understand the Collect
Most collects follow a five-part pattern: the address (the One to whom we pray), the reason (what God has done or promised), the petition (what we ask), the purpose (what we hope will result), and the ending (the closing that names the Trinity).
O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
1. Mark each part of the collect. What is unusual about it?
2. How did the voice from the cloud foreshow "our adoption by grace"?
3. How do Moses and Elijah confirm "the mysteries of the faith"?
Step 2 · Understand the Gospel
Read the Gospel on your own.
Matthew 17:1-9
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."
1. Why did Peter want to build three tents (v. 4)?
2. The voice interrupts Peter (v. 5). What does it correct?
3. Why did Jesus tell them to tell no one until He was raised from the dead (v. 9)?
4. The Church hears this Gospel just before Lent. Why?
Step 3 · Find the Collect in the Gospel
1. Find at least two places where the collect's words appear in the Gospel. Explain each one.
2. Today's Epistle says, "We ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain" (2 Peter 1:18). What does Peter's letter add to the Gospel?
Step 4 · The Small Catechism
The Third Commandment. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
Cross-reference. "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:19)
1. The Father says, "Listen to him." How does that sum up Luther's explanation of the Third Commandment?
2. Peter saw Jesus' glory, yet he says we have "the prophetic word more fully confirmed." Why is Scripture enough for us?
3. At the end they saw "Jesus only" (v. 8). How is that the purpose of worship?
Think about it. Why don't we see Jesus shining in glory today? Read 2 Peter 1:19 and be ready to talk about it.
Step 5 · Wrap It All Up
1. Write a short collect of your own for this day. Use all five parts.
Pray today's collect together. Then answer:
2. What does Jesus do for you when you are afraid of God?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible. Small Catechism quotation from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, © Concordia Publishing House.