Daily Readings - Sun Mar 08 2020

¹Then the Lord said to Abram: "Depart from your land, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, and come into the land that I will show you²And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and magnify your name, and you will be blessed³I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.⁴And so Abram departed just as the Lord had instructed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran

2 Timothy

Chapter 1

⁸And so, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. Instead, collaborate with the Gospel in accord with the virtue of God⁹who has freed us and has called us to his holy vocation, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus, before the ages of time¹⁰And this has now been made manifest by the illumination of our Savior Jesus Christ, who certainly has destroyed death, and who has also illuminated life and incorruption through the Gospel

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 narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the revelation of God's divine plan. The first reading from Genesis recounts Abram's pivotal moment of faith, where he is called by God to leave his homeland at the age of 75. This call signifies the beginning of a covenant that will shape the course of salvation history. Abram's trust in God, despite the unknown, exemplifies the kind of faith that underpins our relationship with the divine. The second reading from 2 Timothy urges us to embrace the Gospel without shame, trusting in God's grace rather than our own works. It reminds us that our salvation is a gift from God, revealed through Jesus Christ, who has conquered death and brought eternal life. This passage encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, knowing that they are part of a larger narrative of God's grace. The Gospel reading, the Transfiguration of Jesus, offers a profound revelation of Jesus' divinity. On the mountain, Peter, James, and John witness Jesus' glory, alongside Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. God's voice commands them to listen to Jesus, affirming Him as the beloved Son. This moment strengthens the disciples' faith, preparing them for the trials ahead and pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of all that has been promised. These readings weave together themes of trust, grace, and revelation. Abram's journey, the encouragement in Timothy, and the Transfiguration all highlight the importance of trusting in God's plan. In our daily lives, we are called to emulate Abram's faith, stepping into the unknown with confidence in God's promises. We are to stand firm in the Gospel, knowing that our salvation is a gift of grace. Let us see Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God, guiding us to trust in His plan and live courageously in faith. May we, like the disciples, rise with courage, trusting that God's plan is greater than our own, and may we always listen to the voice of Jesus, our beloved Lord.