Daily Readings - Sat Aug 06 2022
First Reading - Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14 or 2 Peter 1.16-19
Daniel
9"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.13"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
2 Peter
16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.19And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
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 visions of divine authority and revelation. The first reading from Daniel presents a majestic vision of the Ancient of Days, seated on a throne with a river of fire, surrounded by countless attendants. This imagery underscores God's eternal sovereignty and the advent of the Messiah, described as "one like a son of man," who is granted an everlasting kingdom. This vision, rooted in Daniel's prophetic context, foreshadows the Messiah's eternal reign, offering hope and assurance of God's ultimate triumph.
The Gospel reading from Luke recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus, a pivotal moment where His divine glory is unveiled to Peter, James, and John. While praying, Jesus' appearance transforms, and He is joined by Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The voice from the cloud affirms Jesus as the beloved Son, instructing the disciples to listen to Him. This event, occurring midway through Luke's narrative, reinforces Jesus' divine identity and mission, preparing the disciples for the challenges ahead, including His passion.
These readings, though separated by time, are intricately connected. Daniel's vision of the Messiah's eternal kingdom finds its fulfillment in Jesus, whose Transfiguration reveals His divine authority. Both narratives invite us to trust in God's plan and recognize Jesus' central role in our lives. In our daily struggles, they remind us to seek God's presence and listen to His voice, just as the disciples did. The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to embrace faith and trust in God's eternal plan, following Jesus as our guide and strength. May we, like the disciples, emerge from moments of revelation with renewed commitment to His will.