Daily Readings - Sun Mar 16 2025

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

Philippians

20But our way of life is in heaven. And from heaven, too, we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ21who will transform the body of our lowliness, according to the form of the body of his glory, by means of that power by which he is even able to subject all things to himself
1And so, my most beloved and most desired brothers, my joy and my crown: stand firm in this way, in the Lord, most beloved

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 encounter profound moments of faith and revelation that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Abram, where Abram's trust in God's promise is met with the establishment of a sacred covenant. This moment signifies the beginning of a divine relationship, emphasizing faith as a cornerstone of our connection with God. The second reading from Philippians shifts our gaze to the future, urging us to embrace our heavenly citizenship and await Christ's return with hope. Paul reminds us that our true home is in heaven, where Christ will transform our bodies to reflect His glory. This passage invites us to live with an eternal perspective, trusting in God's plan beyond our current circumstances. The Gospel narrative of the Transfiguration in Luke offers a vivid display of Jesus' divine glory, accompanied by Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The Father's command to "listen to Him" underscores Jesus' central role in our faith. This event not only strengthens the disciples' faith but also serves as a reminder to us of the revelation of God's glory in moments of doubt or uncertainty. These readings collectively call us to trust in God's promises, just as Abram did, and to live with hope in the face of uncertainty. They remind us that our ultimate hope lies in Christ's return and the transformation He will bring. In our daily lives, we are encouraged to keep our eyes fixed on heavenly things, trusting that God's plan, though sometimes unclear, is always rooted in His love and faithfulness. Let us, therefore, embrace the lessons of faith and hope from these readings, allowing them to guide us as we navigate our own journeys of trust and discipleship.