First Reading
Genesis 12:1-4a
The LORD said to Abram:
“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.
“I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you.”
Abram went as the LORD directed him.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
R/ (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R/ Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R/ Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R/ Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Second Reading
2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.
He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.
Gospel
Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: CONVERSATION PEACE
"Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with Him." –Matthew 17:3
It is extremely important that we hear the Lord and converse with Him. The most important conversation we will ever have with the Lord will be on the subject of His death and resurrection. However, this is the most difficult subject of conversation for us.
Jesus' transfiguration was an attempt to help us converse with Him about His death and resurrection. When we see Jesus glorified, we realize "the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us" (Rm 8:18). When we see Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah (Mt 17:3), we see how our conversation with Jesus is supposed to be. Finally, when we hear the Father command us to listen to Jesus (Mt 17:5), we realize that we'd better listen to Him whether we want to or not.
Never has a conversation ever been so dramatically introduced as the one following the transfiguration. Nevertheless, when Jesus once again tried to engage the apostles in conversation about His passion, death, and resurrection, they broke off the conversation. At Jesus's "words they were overwhelmed with grief" (Mt 17:23). So the transfiguration seemed at first a failure. However, after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the transfiguration took effect (see 2 Pt 1:17-18). Jesus' disciples not only conversed with Him about His death and resurrection; they even lived crucified and risen lives. Then they took up their daily crosses and witnessed for the risen Christ.
PRAYER: Jesus, may I be fully engaged in conversation with You.
PROMISE: Jesus "has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the gospel." –2 Tm 1:10
PRAISE: Jesus is risen! We can live with Him forever! Thank You, Jesus.
...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our heart...
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