Daily Readings - Sun Mar 17 2019
Genesis
5And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."6And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.7And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess."8But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?"9He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."10And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.11And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.12As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
Luke
28Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.30And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.32Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.33And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"--not knowing what he said.34As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.35And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!"36And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of trust, hope, and divine fulfillment. The first reading from Genesis 15 highlights Abram's unwavering faith in God's promise of land and descendants, which is recognized as righteousness. This narrative underscores the importance of trusting God's plan, even when the future seems uncertain.
The second reading from Philippians 3:20 – 4:1 shifts our gaze to the heavenly realm, reminding us that our true citizenship lies beyond this earth. Paul encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, awaiting the transformation that Christ will bring, reinforcing the hope of eternal life with Him.
The Gospel from Luke 9:28b-36 recounts the Transfiguration, where Jesus' divine glory is revealed alongside Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's promises. Peter's reaction illustrates human limitations in grasping divine events, yet the voice from the cloud directs us to listen to Jesus, affirming His authority and the fulfillment of God's plan.
These readings collectively invite us to trust in God's promises, much like Abram, and to hold onto the hope of eternal life with Christ. In our daily lives, this means maintaining faith despite uncertainties and keeping our eyes on the eternal hope God offers. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's plan and listen to His voice, for He is our ultimate hope and fulfillment.