Daily Readings - Wed Aug 06 2025
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the majesty of God and the profound revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In the first reading from Daniel, we are presented with a vision of the Ancient One, a symbol of God’s eternal sovereignty, and the Son of Man, who is given dominion and glory. This vision is a prophetic glimpse into the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom, where all nations and peoples will acknowledge His eternal rule. The imagery of the throne, the river of fire, and the heavenly court emphasizes the awe-inspiring power and justice of God.
In the Gospel, Luke describes the Transfiguration of Jesus, where Peter, James, and John witness the divine glory of Christ. The presence of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, underscores the fulfillment of God’s plan in Jesus. The voice from the cloud, declaring Jesus as the beloved Son, reinforces His unique relationship with the Father and His authority over all creation. This moment of transfiguration is a revelation of Jesus’ true identity and a call to trust in His mission, even as He prepares to face the cross.
These readings remind us that our lives are rooted in God’s eternal plan. Just as the disciples were called to listen to Jesus, we too are invited to surrender to His will and trust in His providence. In our daily lives, we often face moments of uncertainty or fear, but the Transfiguration encourages us to seek a deeper union with God through prayer and contemplation. Let us ask for the grace to see beyond the challenges of this world and to behold the glory of God in all things. May we, like the disciples, emerge from our own “mountaintop” experiences with renewed faith and courage to follow Christ, no matter the cost.