Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 8, 2020
First Reading: Genesis 12.1-4
1Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.3I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Psalm 33
1Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!13The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1.8b-10
8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,9who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,10and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
Gospel: Matthew 17.1-9
1And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.3And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.4And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."5He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."6When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear."8And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.9And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised 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.