Daily Readings - Mon Aug 06 2018
First Reading - Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14 or 2 Peter 1.16-19
Daniel
9I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
2 Peter
16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Mark
2And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.3And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.4And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.5And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.6For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.7And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.8And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.9And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.10And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound visions of God’s glory and the revelation of His divine plan. The first reading from Daniel describes a heavenly scene where the Ancient of Days, a symbol of God’s eternal wisdom and judgment, sits in power. Before Him, the Son of Man, a figure representing the people of God, is given dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will endure forever. This vision reminds us of God’s ultimate triumph over all earthly powers and the eternal nature of His kingdom. The Gospel from Mark, on the other hand, presents the Transfiguration of Jesus, where He reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. Accompanied by Moses and Elijah, who represent the Law and the Prophets, Jesus is affirmed by the Father as the Beloved Son, the fulfillment of all that has been spoken.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the divine authority and eternal reign of God. In Daniel, the Son of Man receives dominion over all peoples, while in Mark, Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, the one to whom all must listen. Together, they invite us to see beyond the limitations of this world and to trust in God’s plan, which transcends time and human understanding. The Transfiguration, in particular, serves as a moment of encouragement for the disciples, reminding them of the glory that awaits those who follow Jesus, even in the face of suffering and death.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s revelation in our lives? Like Peter, we may feel overwhelmed by the majesty of God, but we are called to listen to Jesus, the Beloved Son, and to trust in His plan. In our daily lives, we are often tempted to focus on the immediate challenges and uncertainties around us, but today’s readings remind us to lift our eyes to the eternal kingdom. Let us strive to live with hope and faith, knowing that God’s power and glory will ultimately prevail. May we, like the disciples, descend from the mountain of prayer and worship, ready to follow Jesus on the path He has set before us, even when the journey is difficult.