Daily Readings - Sun Mar 13 2022
Genesis
5He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars-if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."6Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.7He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."8But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"9So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."10Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.11Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.12As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates-
Luke
28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.30Two men, Moses and Elijah,31appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)34While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.35A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."36When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what 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.