Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Elijah in the Whirlwind

2 The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven^(A) in a whirlwind.^(B) Elijah and Elisha^(C) were traveling from Gilgal,^{(D) 2} and Elijah said to Elisha,^(E) “Stay here;^(F) the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.”^(G)

But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”^(H) So they went down to Bethel.

³ Then the sons of the prophets^(I) who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” ^(J)

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁴ Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”^(K)

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

⁵ Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?”

He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁶ Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.”^(L)

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

⁷ Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood observing them at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took his mantle,^(M) rolled it up, and struck the water, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.^{(N) 9} When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”

So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”^(O)

¹⁰ Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you,^(P) you will have it. If not, you won’t.”

¹¹ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire^(Q) suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.^{(R) 12} As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” ^(S)

Elisha Succeeds Elijah

When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two,^(T)

Psalm 50

God as Judge

A psalm of Asaph.^(A)

³ But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ In their case, the god of this age^(A) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,^[a](B) who is the image of God.^{(C) 5} For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(D) and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. ⁶ For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^(E) has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge^(F) of God’s glory^(G) in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Transfiguration

² After^(A) six days^(B) Jesus took Peter, James, and John^(C) and led them up a high mountain^(D) by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured^(E) in front of them, ³ and his clothes^(F) became dazzling—extremely white^(G) as no launderer on earth could whiten^(H) them. ⁴ Elijah^(I) appeared to them with Moses,^(J) and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(K) it’s good^(L) for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters:^(M) one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what to say,^(N) since they were terrified.^(O)

⁷ A cloud^(P) appeared, overshadowing^(Q) them, and a voice^(R) came from the cloud:^(S) “This is my beloved^(T) Son;^(U) listen to him!” ^(V)

⁸ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As^(W) they were coming down the mountain,^(X) he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen^(Y) until the Son of Man^(Z) had risen^(AA) from the dead.^(AB)