It is Transfiguration Sunday. Today’s Bach cantata is “Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein” (On Christ’s ascension into heaven alone), composed for the Feast of the Ascension but with relevant words for Transfiguration Sunday as well:

Today’s Gospel reading is Mark 9:2-9:

The Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

The text of today’s cantata is available here, and contains these words:

I am ready, come, take me!
Here in the world
are suffering, fear, and pain;
over there, in the courts of Salem,
I shall be transfigured.
There I see God face to face,
as His holy word promises me.

. . . .

To fathom His omnipotence
no human can discern,
my mouth is dumb and silent.
I see through the stars
that He already from afar
indicates the right hand of God.

Happy listening! Soli Deo Gloria.