Daily Readings - Sun Aug 06 2017

Second Reading - 2 Peter 1.16-19

¹⁶For it was not by following fanciful doctrines that we made known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were made eyewitnesses of his greatness¹⁷For he received honor and glory from God the Father, whose voice descended to him from the magnificent glory: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.¹⁸We also heard this voice conveyed from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain¹⁹And so, we have an even firmer prophetic word, to which you would do well to listen, as to a light shining within a dark place, until the day dawns, and the daystar rises, in your hearts

Gospel - Matthew 17.1-9

Matthew

Chapter 17

¹And after six days, Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John, and he led them onto a lofty mountain separately²And he was transfigured before them. And his face shined brightly like the sun. And his garments were made white like snow³And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, speaking with him⁴And Peter responded by saying to Jesus: "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you are willing, let us make three tabernacles here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.⁵And while he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud overshadowed them. And behold, there was a voice from the cloud, saying: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.⁶And the disciples, hearing this, fell prone on their face, and they were very afraid⁷And Jesus drew near and touched them. And he said to them, "Rise up and do not be afraid.⁸And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone⁹And as they were descending from the mountain, Jesus instructed them, saying, "Tell no one about the vision, until the Son of man has risen from the dead.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful moments of divine revelation. The Second Reading from 2 Peter reminds us that the apostles were not spreading fanciful stories but were eyewitnesses to the majesty of Christ. They heard the voice of God the Father on the holy mountain, affirming Jesus as His beloved Son. This experience solidified their faith and underscores the reliability of their testimony. The Gospel from Matthew recounts the Transfiguration, where Jesus, accompanied by Moses and Elijah, is glorified before Peter, James, and John. The voice from the cloud reiterates God’s pleasure in Jesus, instructing the disciples to listen to Him. This event not only confirmed Jesus’ divine identity but also prepared the disciples for the trials ahead. The context of these readings is crucial. Peter’s letter was likely written during a time of challenge for the early Church, emphasizing the trustworthiness of their eyewitness accounts. The Transfiguration in Matthew follows Peter’s confession of faith, reinforcing Jesus’ true identity. Both readings highlight the authority of Jesus, with Peter’s letter serving as a testament to the divine message and the Gospel illustrating God’s direct endorsement. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God’s revelation and remain open to His presence. Just as the disciples were transformed by their experience, we too can encounter God in moments of prayer and reflection. The moral lesson here is the importance of listening to Jesus and trusting in His divine plan, even amidst uncertainty. Let us seek to hear His voice and allow His light to guide us, trusting in His presence and plan for our lives.