Reading I
Gn 15:5-12, 17-18
The Lord God took Abram outside and said,
“Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”
Abram put his faith in the LORD,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.
He then said to him,
“I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans
to give you this land as a possession.”
“O Lord GOD,” he asked,
“how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
He answered him,
“Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat,
a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Abram brought him all these, split them in two,
and placed each half opposite the other;
but the birds he did not cut up.
Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses,
but Abram stayed with them.
As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram,
and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.
When the sun had set and it was dark,
there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch,
which passed between those pieces.
It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram,
saying: “To your descendants I give this land,
from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”
Reading II
Phil 3:17—4:1 or 3:20—4:1
Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters,
and observe those who thus conduct themselves
according to the model you have in us.
For many, as I have often told you
and now tell you even in tears,
conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach;
their glory is in their “shame.”
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body
by the power that enables him also
to bring all things into subjection to himself.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm in the Lord.
or
Brothers and sisters:
Our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body
by the power that enables him also
to bring all things into subjection to himself.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.
Gospel
Lk 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.
Meditation: Luke 9:28-36
Who can forget the “bargain” that Abraham tried to make with God when he interceded on behalf of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah?
That was pretty bold of him, wasn’t it? Think, too, about how David, Job, Isaiah, and Paul all communicated with the Lord. And we all know about Mary’s conversation with the angel Gabriel. In fact, the more you look at the Bible, the more stories you find about ordinary human beings actually speaking with—and hearing from—Almighty God. It’s on almost every page of Scripture!
All of these divine encounters are summed up and capped off by the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration. If none of the other stories in the Bible convinces us, perhaps this amazing event can help us believe that communication with heaven really is possible.
The story of Jesus’ Transfiguration prompts us to ask a key question: Does my experience at Mass, in prayer, or while reading Scripture, include being influenced by Jesus? Does it include the promise that I can hear from heaven and be changed by what I hear? We may not know exactly what it feels like when Jesus is speaking to us, but there are a few signs we can be on the lookout for.
Perhaps you feel a desire in your heart to praise Jesus and thank him for his love. Perhaps you experience a growing hatred of sin and the way it separates you from the peace of Christ. You may feel a great sense of happiness, peace, or joy—especially after receiving the Eucharist. Or possibly you will find yourself moved to show greater love for your family. Or maybe you will experience a growing desire to serve the Lord, whether in your parish or in your community. Don’t discount these feelings! Jesus works in many ways, and the more we respond to him, the more confident we will be in his love.
“Jesus, I trust that you hear my prayers, and so I will keep coming to you. Lord, I trust you to give me the wisdom and grace to live a life pleasing to you.”
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