Daily Readings - Mon Aug 06 2018
First Reading - Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14 or 2 Peter 1.16-19
Daniel
9As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.10A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.13I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.14And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
2 Peter
16For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,"18we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.19And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
Mark
2And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,3and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.5And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."6For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.7And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him."8And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.9And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound visions of God’s glory and the revelation of His divine plan. The first reading from Daniel describes a heavenly scene where the Ancient of Days, a symbol of God’s eternal wisdom and judgment, sits in power. Before Him, the Son of Man, a figure representing the people of God, is given dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will endure forever. This vision reminds us of God’s ultimate triumph over all earthly powers and the eternal nature of His kingdom. The Gospel from Mark, on the other hand, presents the Transfiguration of Jesus, where He reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. Accompanied by Moses and Elijah, who represent the Law and the Prophets, Jesus is affirmed by the Father as the Beloved Son, the fulfillment of all that has been spoken.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the divine authority and eternal reign of God. In Daniel, the Son of Man receives dominion over all peoples, while in Mark, Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, the one to whom all must listen. Together, they invite us to see beyond the limitations of this world and to trust in God’s plan, which transcends time and human understanding. The Transfiguration, in particular, serves as a moment of encouragement for the disciples, reminding them of the glory that awaits those who follow Jesus, even in the face of suffering and death.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s revelation in our lives? Like Peter, we may feel overwhelmed by the majesty of God, but we are called to listen to Jesus, the Beloved Son, and to trust in His plan. In our daily lives, we are often tempted to focus on the immediate challenges and uncertainties around us, but today’s readings remind us to lift our eyes to the eternal kingdom. Let us strive to live with hope and faith, knowing that God’s power and glory will ultimately prevail. May we, like the disciples, descend from the mountain of prayer and worship, ready to follow Jesus on the path He has set before us, even when the journey is difficult.