February 14, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for February 14th: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9; Theme: The Love of God; Song: Open My Eyes, That I May See UMH 454 Shine Jesus Shine FWS 2173 2 Kings: Every time that I hear this story, I am inspired. This is a story about transition from the old to the new. It is the day when the famous prophet Elijah goes up into heaven and leaves his mantle for his student Elisha to pick up. Elisha is a very different person, but he does work to fill Elijah’s shoes. I think we all have the mentor that we ascribed to be like. And once they were gone, we did the best that we could be fill their shoes even though we were a different person, who lived in a different time. The good news of this story is that we come and we go, but the spirit of God lives on. God continues God’s work in each and every new generation. It is important for us to pay attention to the day of transition, when God moves from old to new. We have to be willing to see the chariot of God come to earth and to move forward in a mighty way Mark: We have reached an important transition time in the Christian Year. This is the last Sunday of Epiphany before lent begins. Every year we hear the story of Jesus taking his new disciples up to a mountain to pray and he is transfigured at his mentors Moses and Elijah visit him to give him strength for the journey ahead. This story is proof that God appears to us in each and every generation, and that God calls someone in that generation to carry on the building of God’s kingdom. It is also proof that in every transition, we have time to look back on the past, and to move forward into our work. The disciples did not realize what was happening at the time, but God was showing them what was next. As we read the stories of the bible, God is showing us what we must do in our time. It is time for us to get to work, but for us also to look for who in the next generation that will continue now so much our work, but the work of the Lord. Questions: Who mentored you in your current job? How did God speak to you to tell you what to do? What did you see as a child that you wished you had paid more attention to? How is God speaking to the next generation?