Transfiguration Of Jesus

August 06, 2021, Friday 
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 614

Reading I
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:
    Thrones were set up
        and the Ancient One took his throne.
    His clothing was bright as snow,
        and the hair on his head as white as wool;
    his throne was flames of fire,
        with wheels of burning fire.
    A surging stream of fire
        flowed out from where he sat;
    Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
        and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
    One like a Son of man coming,
        on the clouds of heaven;
    When he reached the Ancient One
        and was presented before him,
    The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
        all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
    His dominion is an everlasting dominion
        that shall not be taken away,
        his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm
97:1-2, 5-6, 9

R.    (1a and 9a)  The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
    let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
    justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

R.    The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
    before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
    and all peoples see his glory.

R.    The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
    exalted far above all gods. 

R.    The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Reading II
2 Pt 1:16-19

Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess a prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

Alleluia
Mt 17:5c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mk 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them, 
and his clothes became dazzling white, 
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, 
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents: 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; 
from the cloud came a voice, 
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves, 
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

REFLECTION:

Today is the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord when his three closest friends saw his glory and heard the voice from heaven proclaim him as the beloved son. ‘Listen to him!’ Yet he told them not to tell anybody of what they saw. How mysterious to be in God’s presence and see his glory! I just stay in the scene, dazzled by Jesus’ glory, hearing the voice of the Father inviting me to listen to the Son, and feeling the mystery of being in the cloud.

The three apostles see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. Like Jesus, they were leaders of their people, leading them to freedom and to the true faith. Yet both had to suffer grievously to fulfill their mission and their presence at the moment of glorification is another indication that Jesus will suffer the same fate. I pray for a trusting faith in God’s providence.

PRAYER:

Jesus saw that there was a time for silence and a time to speak. I ask God to help me to know which is appropriate – and when. I may draw strength from considering how I have been able to show restraint in the past.