Lectionary: 614
Reading 1
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Reading 2
2 Peter 1:16-19
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Gospel
Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,
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
THEME: HARD OF HEARING?
"We ourselves heard this said from heaven while we were in His company on the holy mountain." –2 Peter 1:18
The Transfiguration of Jesus was a prelude to an even more important event: the Father's command to listen to Jesus (Mt 17:5). We need the Father's command to listen to Jesus because of our natural aversion to what Jesus is talking about – the cross. We don't want to hear about taking up the cross and dying on it daily (see Lk 9:23). With Peter, we are inclined to say to Jesus: "May You be spared, Master! God forbid that any such thing ever happen to You!" (Mt 16:22) (see Catechism, 554) However, we must resist the temptation to contrive a crossless Christianity. We must listen to Jesus about the cross; for the agony, pain, and weakness of the cross is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24) – even the perfection of God's power (2 Cor 12:9).
If we obey the Father's voice and listen to Jesus, we will not only hear Jesus proclaiming the cross but also "speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). Then people will be graced to listen to us. We will even come to the point of never boasting "of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal 6:14). At the foot of the cross, we will say with the Father: "Listen to Jesus."
PRAYER: Father, may I hear what I have had the hardest time hearing.
PROMISE: "His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, His kingship shall not be destroyed." –Dn 7:14
PRAISE: Praise Jesus, transfigured, crucified, and glorified! Alleluia!
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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