Daily Readings - Sun Mar 17 2019
Genesis
5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.7And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.8And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.11And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Luke
28And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.29And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.30And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.33And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto 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: not knowing what he said.34While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.36And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of trust, hope, and divine fulfillment. The first reading from Genesis 15 highlights Abram's unwavering faith in God's promise of land and descendants, which is recognized as righteousness. This narrative underscores the importance of trusting God's plan, even when the future seems uncertain.
The second reading from Philippians 3:20 – 4:1 shifts our gaze to the heavenly realm, reminding us that our true citizenship lies beyond this earth. Paul encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, awaiting the transformation that Christ will bring, reinforcing the hope of eternal life with Him.
The Gospel from Luke 9:28b-36 recounts the Transfiguration, where Jesus' divine glory is revealed alongside Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's promises. Peter's reaction illustrates human limitations in grasping divine events, yet the voice from the cloud directs us to listen to Jesus, affirming His authority and the fulfillment of God's plan.
These readings collectively invite us to trust in God's promises, much like Abram, and to hold onto the hope of eternal life with Christ. In our daily lives, this means maintaining faith despite uncertainties and keeping our eyes on the eternal hope God offers. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's plan and listen to His voice, for He is our ultimate hope and fulfillment.