Daily Readings - Sun Mar 17 2019
Genesis
5And he brought him outside, and he said to him, "Take in the heavens, and number the stars, if you can." And he said to him, "So also will your offspring be.6Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice7And he said to him, "I am the Lord who led you away from Ur of the Chaldeans, so as to give you this land, and so that you would possess it.8But he said, "Lord God, in what way may I be able to know that I will possess it?9And the Lord responded by saying: "Take for me a cow of three years, and a she-goat of three years, and a ram of three years, also a turtle-dove and a pigeon.10Taking all these, he divided them through the middle, and placed both parts opposite one another. But the birds he did not divide11And birds descended upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away12And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a dread, great and dark, invaded him17Then, when the sun had set, there came a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions18On that day, God formed a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your offspring I will give this land, from the river of Egypt, even to the great river Euphrates
Luke
28And it happened that, about eight days after these words, he took Peter and James and John, and he ascended onto a mountain, so that he might pray29And while he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his vestment became white and shining30And behold, two men were talking with him. And these were Moses and Elijah, appearing in majesty31And they spoke of his departure, which he would accomplish at Jerusalem32Yet truly, Peter and those who were with him were weighed down by sleep. And becoming alert, they saw his majesty and the two men who were standing with him33And it happened that, as these were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus: "Teacher, it is good for us to be here. And so, let us make three tabernacles: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For he did not know what he was saying34Then, as he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them. And as these were entering into the cloud, they were afraid35And a voice came from the cloud, saying: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.36And while the voice was being uttered, Jesus was found to be alone. And they were silent and told no one, in those days, any of these things, which they had seen
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of trust, hope, and divine fulfillment. The first reading from Genesis 15 highlights Abram's unwavering faith in God's promise of land and descendants, which is recognized as righteousness. This narrative underscores the importance of trusting God's plan, even when the future seems uncertain.
The second reading from Philippians 3:20 – 4:1 shifts our gaze to the heavenly realm, reminding us that our true citizenship lies beyond this earth. Paul encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, awaiting the transformation that Christ will bring, reinforcing the hope of eternal life with Him.
The Gospel from Luke 9:28b-36 recounts the Transfiguration, where Jesus' divine glory is revealed alongside Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's promises. Peter's reaction illustrates human limitations in grasping divine events, yet the voice from the cloud directs us to listen to Jesus, affirming His authority and the fulfillment of God's plan.
These readings collectively invite us to trust in God's promises, much like Abram, and to hold onto the hope of eternal life with Christ. In our daily lives, this means maintaining faith despite uncertainties and keeping our eyes on the eternal hope God offers. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's plan and listen to His voice, for He is our ultimate hope and fulfillment.