Daily Readings - Sat Aug 06 2022
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,
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 visions of divine authority and revelation. The first reading from Daniel presents a majestic vision of the Ancient of Days, seated on a throne with a river of fire, surrounded by countless attendants. This imagery underscores God's eternal sovereignty and the advent of the Messiah, described as "one like a son of man," who is granted an everlasting kingdom. This vision, rooted in Daniel's prophetic context, foreshadows the Messiah's eternal reign, offering hope and assurance of God's ultimate triumph.
The Gospel reading from Luke recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus, a pivotal moment where His divine glory is unveiled to Peter, James, and John. While praying, Jesus' appearance transforms, and He is joined by Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The voice from the cloud affirms Jesus as the beloved Son, instructing the disciples to listen to Him. This event, occurring midway through Luke's narrative, reinforces Jesus' divine identity and mission, preparing the disciples for the challenges ahead, including His passion.
These readings, though separated by time, are intricately connected. Daniel's vision of the Messiah's eternal kingdom finds its fulfillment in Jesus, whose Transfiguration reveals His divine authority. Both narratives invite us to trust in God's plan and recognize Jesus' central role in our lives. In our daily struggles, they remind us to seek God's presence and listen to His voice, just as the disciples did. The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to embrace faith and trust in God's eternal plan, following Jesus as our guide and strength. May we, like the disciples, emerge from moments of revelation with renewed commitment to His will.