Daily Readings - Tue Aug 06 2024
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 that reveal the divine plan and the identity of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Daniel presents a vivid apocalyptic vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man, symbolizing God’s eternal sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of righteousness. This vision, filled with imagery of thrones, fire, and heavenly beings, speaks of a future where all nations will serve the Son of Man, emphasizing the eternal and universal nature of God’s kingdom.
The Gospel from Mark recounts the Transfiguration, where Jesus reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. Appearing with Moses and Elijah, Jesus embodies the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The voice from the cloud reaffirms Jesus as the beloved Son, instructing the disciples to listen to Him. This moment is a pivotal revelation of Jesus’ identity, bridging the prophecy of Daniel’s Son of Man with the Messiah who will rise from the dead.
These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God’s plan. Just as the disciples faced confusion and fear, we too may encounter uncertainty. Yet, the Transfiguration teaches us to seek clarity in prayer and to trust in God’s revelation. The moral lesson here is to recognize Jesus as our guide and to trust in His divine plan, even when the path is unclear. Let us strive to listen to Jesus, embracing His teachings and allowing His light to transform our lives, trusting that His kingdom will prevail.