Daily Readings - Fri Aug 06 2021
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 divine authority and transformation. The first reading from Daniel presents a majestic scene of God's throne, where the Ancient of Days presides over a celestial court. This vision underscores God's eternal sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of righteousness. The Gospel from Mark recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus, where His divine glory is unveiled before Peter, James, and John. This moment not only confirms Jesus' identity as the Son of God but also strengthens the disciples' faith as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
These passages are deeply connected, as both point to the revelation of God's glory and the ultimate dominion of the Messiah. In Daniel, the vision prepares the people for the coming of a divine ruler who will reign forever. In Mark, the Transfiguration is a fulfillment of that promise, as Jesus, the Son of Man, is revealed in His glory. Together, they remind us that God's plan unfolds in His time, and His kingdom will endure forever.
As we reflect on these readings, let us draw strength from the knowledge that we are part of a larger story. In moments of uncertainty, may we trust in God's eternal plan and listen to the voice of Jesus, who calls us to follow Him. Let us strive to live as disciples who, like Peter, James, and John, are transformed by the encounter with Christ and committed to His mission. May we find hope in the promise of God's kingdom, where love and justice will reign supreme.