Daily Readings - Tue Aug 06 2019

First Reading - Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14 or 2 Peter 1.16-19

⁹I watched until thrones were set up, and the ancient of days sat down. His garment was radiant like snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool; his throne was flames of fire, its wheels had been set on fire¹⁰A river of fire rushed forth from his presence. Thousands upon thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times hundreds of thousands attended before him. The trial began, and the books were opened¹³I watched, therefore, in the vision of the night, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man arrived, and he approached all the way to the ancient of days, and they presented him before him¹⁴And he gave him power, and honor, and the kingdom, and all peoples, tribes, and languages will serve him. His power is an eternal power, which will not be taken away, and his kingdom, one which will not be corrupted

2 Peter

Chapter 1

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

Luke

Chapter 9

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 encounter profound visions of divine authority and transformation. The first reading from Daniel presents a majestic vision of the Ancient of Days, surrounded by heavenly ministers, who grants eternal dominion to one like a son of man. This vision, written during a time of persecution, offers hope in God's ultimate sovereignty and the promise of a Messiah. The Gospel from Luke recounts the Transfiguration, where Jesus, in the presence of Peter, James, and John, reveals His divine glory. Moses and Elijah appear, symbolizing the Law and the Prophets, and a heavenly voice affirms Jesus as the beloved Son, instructing the disciples to listen to Him. These readings are deeply connected, as both point to the divine identity of Jesus. Daniel's son of man prefigures the Messiah, while the Transfiguration confirms Jesus as that Messiah, reinforcing His authority and mission. The voice from the cloud underscores the importance of heeding Jesus' teachings, just as the son of man in Daniel receives eternal dominion. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan, especially during challenging times. The Transfiguration reminds us that glimpses of God's glory can strengthen our faith. The moral lesson is clear: we must listen to Jesus and align our lives with His will. As we navigate life's uncertainties, may we find courage in the knowledge of God's sovereignty and the transformative power of Jesus' presence. Let us strive to listen to His voice and follow His path, trusting in His eternal kingdom.