February 15th, 2026
“And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
(Matthew 10:38-39)
Blessings to you, dear friends on this last Sunday of the Epiphany season. This Sunday is traditionally called: Quinquagesima Sunday (Trying saying that five times fast!), and marking the approximate 50th day from the triumphant celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection on Easter! This Sunday not only marks the end of Epiphany, but the last Sunday in our pre-Lenten transition.
This Epiphany, rather than following the old Anglican tradition of beginning this pre-Lenten tide as we had last year, we set that practice aside in order to focus on the more festive occasions that coincided so often with our Sunday worship. Not to mention, it was a nice reprieve given the severity of the snow and having to close the church two Sundays in a row! All the same, as I have urged you these past few weeks, I do so now with the heightened awareness that the beginning of Holy Lent is imminent.
So why Transfiguration at all during this time of preparing for our somber journey towards Holy Week? The observation of Transfiguration at the end of Epiphany is quite a modern innovation. It seems strange, at a glance, when you consider that the proper feast day is still August 6th, occurring in the middle of summer. Upon closer examination, however, you might sense the welcomeness of this change. In the ordering of events in the Synoptic Gospel tradition (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the Transfiguration is the last great act of our Lord prior to the disciples turning towards Jerusalem.
In other words, not only is it, in itself a feast of great Christological significance that fits thematically in Epiphanytide, but it also represents a pivot point in the story of Jesus’s earthly ministry. From this point on, he is laser focused on his mission that will ultimately carry him into the hands of the Pontius Pilate where he will be sentenced to death. The Transfiguration is, in that sequential context, a vision not just of God’s glory revealed in Jesus as he was before the Incarnation, but it is a vision of what will be. It is, from a certain point of view, kind of like a spoiler reveal of the end of the story before we even get to the tale’s climax!
This “spoiler” is meant to be taken as an encouragement. As we approach Golgotha spiritually and liturgically, as the stench of ash and death lingers in the air, we are reminded that the story does not end in the grave. In that spirit, how appropriate is it to celebrate Transfiguration on this day?! Anglicans, in spite of our strong rootedness have never been afraid of innovation when it calls us deeper into the story of scripture. True enough that this same tendency has gotten us into trouble from time to time. Not here! As we think about our Lenten journey that is to come, let us do so with the reminder of Christ’s glorious Resurrection already in our hearts and on our minds!
The Rev’d Tyler J. Gongola, Rector
