Daily Readings - Sun Mar 13 2022
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 encounter profound moments of faith and divine revelation. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Abram, where Abram's trust in God's promise of land and descendants is met with a solemn ritual of animal sacrifice, symbolizing an unbreakable bond. This act underscores Abram's unwavering faith in the face of uncertainty.
The second reading from Philippians shifts our gaze to the future, urging us to stand firm in our faith as we await Christ's return. It reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, and we are called to live in a way that reflects this eternal hope. This passage encourages perseverance and joy in the midst of earthly challenges.
In the Gospel, the Transfiguration of Jesus offers a glimpse of His divine glory. The presence of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, highlights Jesus as the fulfillment of God's plan. The voice from the cloud commands us to listen to Him, reinforcing His authority and our need to trust in His guidance, especially during life's trials.
These readings weave together themes of trust, hope, and divine presence. Like Abram, we are called to trust God's promises, even when the future is unclear. As we await Christ's return, we are to live with the hope of eternal life, standing firm in our faith. The Transfiguration reminds us to seek Jesus' presence and listen to His voice, finding strength in His divine authority. Let us reflect on our trust in God and live with the hope that His promises bring, listening to Jesus and finding guidance in His words.