Daily Readings - Sun Mar 13 2022
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 encounter profound moments of faith and divine revelation. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Abram, where Abram's trust in God's promise of land and descendants is met with a solemn ritual of animal sacrifice, symbolizing an unbreakable bond. This act underscores Abram's unwavering faith in the face of uncertainty.
The second reading from Philippians shifts our gaze to the future, urging us to stand firm in our faith as we await Christ's return. It reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, and we are called to live in a way that reflects this eternal hope. This passage encourages perseverance and joy in the midst of earthly challenges.
In the Gospel, the Transfiguration of Jesus offers a glimpse of His divine glory. The presence of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, highlights Jesus as the fulfillment of God's plan. The voice from the cloud commands us to listen to Him, reinforcing His authority and our need to trust in His guidance, especially during life's trials.
These readings weave together themes of trust, hope, and divine presence. Like Abram, we are called to trust God's promises, even when the future is unclear. As we await Christ's return, we are to live with the hope of eternal life, standing firm in our faith. The Transfiguration reminds us to seek Jesus' presence and listen to His voice, finding strength in His divine authority. Let us reflect on our trust in God and live with the hope that His promises bring, listening to Jesus and finding guidance in His words.