Daily Readings - Thu Aug 06 2020

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

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 profound visions that illuminate God's plan and the identity of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Daniel presents a vivid apocalyptic vision where the Ancient of Days, a symbol of God, sits in judgment. The Son of Man, a messianic figure, receives dominion over all nations, signifying God's ultimate triumph and the establishment of an everlasting kingdom. This vision, written during a time of great persecution, offers hope to God's people, assuring them of divine deliverance and victory. The Gospel narrative of the Transfiguration complements Daniel's vision, as it provides a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry. Following Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. The appearance of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, underscores the fulfillment of God's plan in Jesus. The voice from the cloud reaffirms Jesus as the beloved Son, commanding the disciples to listen to Him. This event not only confirms Jesus' identity but also strengthens the disciples' faith, preparing them for the trials ahead, including His crucifixion and resurrection. These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of hope and trust in God's plan. Just as Daniel's vision sustained the faithful during persecution, the Transfiguration reminds us to find strength in Jesus' presence and teachings. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God's promises, even amidst challenges, and to seek solace in the knowledge of Jesus' ultimate triumph. May we, like the disciples, rise above our fears and walk faithfully, guided by the light of Christ.