Daily Readings - Tue Aug 06 2024

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 that reveal the divine plan and the identity of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Daniel presents a vivid apocalyptic vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man, symbolizing God’s eternal sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of righteousness. This vision, filled with imagery of thrones, fire, and heavenly beings, speaks of a future where all nations will serve the Son of Man, emphasizing the eternal and universal nature of God’s kingdom. The Gospel from Mark recounts the Transfiguration, where Jesus reveals His divine glory to Peter, James, and John. Appearing with Moses and Elijah, Jesus embodies the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The voice from the cloud reaffirms Jesus as the beloved Son, instructing the disciples to listen to Him. This moment is a pivotal revelation of Jesus’ identity, bridging the prophecy of Daniel’s Son of Man with the Messiah who will rise from the dead. These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God’s plan. Just as the disciples faced confusion and fear, we too may encounter uncertainty. Yet, the Transfiguration teaches us to seek clarity in prayer and to trust in God’s revelation. The moral lesson here is to recognize Jesus as our guide and to trust in His divine plan, even when the path is unclear. Let us strive to listen to Jesus, embracing His teachings and allowing His light to transform our lives, trusting that His kingdom will prevail.