Daily Readings - Sun Mar 08 2020

¹Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:²And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:³And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.⁴So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

2 Timothy

Chapter 1

⁸Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Matthew

Chapter 17

¹And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,²And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.³And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.⁴Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.⁵While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.⁶And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.⁷And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.⁸And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.⁹And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the revelation of God's divine plan. The first reading from Genesis recounts Abram's pivotal moment of faith, where he is called by God to leave his homeland at the age of 75. This call signifies the beginning of a covenant that will shape the course of salvation history. Abram's trust in God, despite the unknown, exemplifies the kind of faith that underpins our relationship with the divine. The second reading from 2 Timothy urges us to embrace the Gospel without shame, trusting in God's grace rather than our own works. It reminds us that our salvation is a gift from God, revealed through Jesus Christ, who has conquered death and brought eternal life. This passage encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, knowing that they are part of a larger narrative of God's grace. The Gospel reading, the Transfiguration of Jesus, offers a profound revelation of Jesus' divinity. On the mountain, Peter, James, and John witness Jesus' glory, alongside Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. God's voice commands them to listen to Jesus, affirming Him as the beloved Son. This moment strengthens the disciples' faith, preparing them for the trials ahead and pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of all that has been promised. These readings weave together themes of trust, grace, and revelation. Abram's journey, the encouragement in Timothy, and the Transfiguration all highlight the importance of trusting in God's plan. In our daily lives, we are called to emulate Abram's faith, stepping into the unknown with confidence in God's promises. We are to stand firm in the Gospel, knowing that our salvation is a gift of grace. Let us see Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God, guiding us to trust in His plan and live courageously in faith. May we, like the disciples, rise with courage, trusting that God's plan is greater than our own, and may we always listen to the voice of Jesus, our beloved Lord.