This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.
listen to him.
Reading 1
Leave your land for the land I will show you.
The LORD said to Abram:
“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.
“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.
“I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you.”
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you.”
Abram went as the LORD directed him.
This is the first step in God’s plan of salvation. He calls Abram and tells him to follow his call into, for what is for Abram, the unknown. God gives his word to Abram and through thick and thin will be faithful to it despite the infidelity of Abram’s descendents. God’s love and grace will prove stronger than all the sin of the world. Through Jesus the son of Abraham – the name God will later give to Abram – God’s word will be fulfilled
Responsorial Psalm
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
This grace had been granted to us, in Jesus Christ, before the beginning of time.
Reading 2
Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.
He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.
Jesus saves us through grace. It is Jesus who saves us. We do not save ourselves. He saves through grace, which is his free gift. Grace is the Holy Spirit who transforms us into the worthy children of God. Our role is to surrender to God, be still before him and allow the Spirit to transfigure our lives.
Gospel
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Can I sacrifice my life in love?
Christianity is not a popular religion. Though we live in the world, Jesus tells us that we do not belong to it. We are to follow him. He goes before us carrying his Cross. Suffering is part of human life. It is part of the Christian life. We can’t avoid it. The Christian has the added suffering that often he is misunderstood by people who think his morality is outdated and this talk of the kingdom is like a fairy tale. Many Christians are persecuted for their faith and even put to death.
Today we get a glimpse of where we are going when this life is over. Everything points to Jesus glorified and we glorified in him. The Old Testament signified by Moses and Elijah stands at his side. It is Jesus who is the Beloved Son. God speaks from the cloud as he had done for Moses and Elijah. His word is ‘Listen to him”. Jesus is the voice of God, the ultimate Word of God. Like Abraham we are told to leave our comfort zone. We are to follow the voice of Jesus. Before Jesus enters his glory he must undergo the Passion and the Cross.
Suffering plays a major part in the life of any follower of Jesus. Jesus did not come to suffer nor are we called to suffer. Jesus came to love. He loved everyone but was welcomed by those who needed love. He was a friend of tax collectors and sinners. He welcomed all who came to him and identified himself with them. He became an outsider and an outcast with them. His love brought him suffering.
Jesus calls his followers to love at any cost, like he did. We are to love everyone in word and indeed. Very often those who do not deserve our love are those who need it most. We begin in the inner circle of our life and move out and we do not omit anyone. Love is to give our interest, our time, our energy, our gentleness and our money for the welfare and spiritual growth of others. We exclude no one. This giving of self involves the pain of suffering. With the Master we gladly give it for it is by sharing in his sufferings that we will also share in his glory. Love for others is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit within us. When we are consumed with love we are also transformed. Love brings about our transfiguration.
Are you ready to go out at any cost to those in your circle who need your love? Is Jesus calling you to be ‘a friend of tax collectors and sinners’? When tragedy and sickness strike in your life can you unite with Jesus knowing he walks with you?
Father, looking on the face of Jesus may I be transformed by my love for others.
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