Daily Readings - Sun Mar 16 2025
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 revelation that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Abram, where Abram's trust in God's promise is met with the establishment of a sacred covenant. This moment signifies the beginning of a divine relationship, emphasizing faith as a cornerstone of our connection with God.
The second reading from Philippians shifts our gaze to the future, urging us to embrace our heavenly citizenship and await Christ's return with hope. Paul reminds us that our true home is in heaven, where Christ will transform our bodies to reflect His glory. This passage invites us to live with an eternal perspective, trusting in God's plan beyond our current circumstances.
The Gospel narrative of the Transfiguration in Luke offers a vivid display of Jesus' divine glory, accompanied by Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The Father's command to "listen to Him" underscores Jesus' central role in our faith. This event not only strengthens the disciples' faith but also serves as a reminder to us of the revelation of God's glory in moments of doubt or uncertainty.
These readings collectively call us to trust in God's promises, just as Abram did, and to live with hope in the face of uncertainty. They remind us that our ultimate hope lies in Christ's return and the transformation He will bring. In our daily lives, we are encouraged to keep our eyes fixed on heavenly things, trusting that God's plan, though sometimes unclear, is always rooted in His love and faithfulness. Let us, therefore, embrace the lessons of faith and hope from these readings, allowing them to guide us as we navigate our own journeys of trust and discipleship.