GROWING

DEEPLY a daily scripture guide

Sunday
SERMON
Week of February 12-17
A Winter Psalm “In Good Faith” - February 11
By Edward M. Hays (From Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim)
Scripture: Matthew 17:1-5,14-21 (NLT)
The earth is rigid like a corpse,
Locked in the snow and ice Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led
Of this winter day. them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance
Silent and stiff, it lies in state. was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became
The trees are bare, as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with
The songs of birds have left; Jesus.
gone too the chanting of insects.
Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make
Only the winter wind raises her voice
three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
in chilling canticles of praise.
Wrapped in her burial shroud of snow, But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from
the earth patiently awaits the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to
the warm touch of your spirit, O God, him.”
to rouse her from the sleep of death,
calling her to rise and come forth At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came
from today’s tomb of winter. and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures
I proclaim the mystery of my faith and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. So I brought
the spring will follow winter, him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
that life will follow death
and that one day Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you?
all the tombs of death’s white season How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Then Jesus
will be transformed into the green of spring, rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was
who is the sister of your Spirit. well.
May my trust in the coming of spring
on this cold winter day Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that
be a sign of my faith demon?”
in the resurrection of all life,
the fulfillment of your promise “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you
the we all will share had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain,
in the new life and eternal spring ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
of your son Jesus Christ.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale
Come, but only in due season, House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
O glorious spring.
And, until then,
may I live in the promise
of your life-giving touch. Read or subscribe to the weekly guide at moumc.org/grow
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