18th Week in Ordinary Time
06th August 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9 (R. see 1a, 9b)
R/. The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
Second Reading: 2 Peter 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 were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honour and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”, we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 17:1-9
At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Glory that awaits!
Guidlines: Glory is our destiny and transfiguration is the way. Misery is not a resident fact but only a temporary ‘parking lot’{alertSuccess}
1. Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor in the presence of three of his disciples. His face and clothes glow so bright and radiant. This indicates that his glory is total, both interior and exterior respectively. The experience of divine glory is so relishing, as Peter exclaims: “It is nice to be here; let us make three tents”.
2. The event of Jesus' transfiguration is a manifestation of his original divinity, identity, and glory. But it is not to display his glory, not to impress upon the three disciples his greatness. It is not self-directed, seeking self-glory. Rather, it serves as a fount of hope that prepares and strengthens the disciples, when faced with the cross and death of Jesus that lie ahead.
3. The transfigured glory of Jesus illumines and assures the disciples that Jesus who meets the fate of the cross, is not a helpless failure, forced to such a miserable end; rather he is the glorious Son of God, who willingly and freely accepts the cross as God's will for salvation. It is not a fate of misery and damnation but a destiny of glory and salvation.
4. Thereby when faced with the ignominy of the cross, let them not be shaken or shocked; let them not be dissipated or frustrated. Let them not be stuck with the cross and death, but rather let their focus go beyond the cross to the glory and eternity. Behind and beyond the disfigured crucified, one should see the transfigured resurrected Lord, re-vested with the original heavenly glory.
5. Thus that simple Jesus, who is walking along with them as an ordinary man, that suffering Jesus, who will be subjected to the humiliation of the cross, is not a disgraced and defeated man. Instead, he is the glorious "beloved Son of the Father", attested so by the Father Himself from heaven. So do not lose faith in him, when things go contrary, but continue to keep trust and hope in him.
6. Jesus’ transfiguration points to our own transfiguration, being adorned with divine glory. It is an indicator, a forecast, and a foretaste of our own resurrection and the glory of the resurrection. It is a prefiguration of our own future glory. The frequent disfiguration of life, with all the vicissitudes and adversities, is not the final or permanent reality. Misery is not an absolute fate.
7. Glory is our eternal destiny. Transfiguration is the ultimate and definitive experience. The transfiguring experience must trigger us to direct our focus, beyond the temporary upsets of the cross, to the eternal upheaval of resurrection.
8. This is possible only through a constant integral transformation of our both interior and exterior. In other words, it is a call for a constant REINVIGORATION of our original identity of being God's image and likeness.
9. This in turn is possible through a faithful CONFIGURATION with Jesus. The more we are tuned and communed to him, the more we live and grow like him, and the more we adhere to him In "attentive listening to him", the more we shall experience and share the same transfiguring glory.
10. Sin disfigures us, depriving us of our original beauty and dignity of being God's image. But, grace through Jesus transfigures us, restoring to us that lost light and radiance. The more we are enlightened, breaking off the sheaths and layers of darkness that often block and blur our radiance, the more we re-discover our real identity and radiate the light of that true image.
11. Thus real transfiguration lies in the daily process of brightening up our lives. Light up the life, daily on the "mountain" - of the vicinity, proximity, and intimacy with God, in a spirit and ambience of solitude and serenity, in the heights of our spirits, in the focused moments of prayer, in a personal encounter with Moses and Elijah, signifying the Law and Prophets, i.e. the entire Scripture and Tradition.
12. Transform and glorify life, wholly and fully. Change the interior, indicated by the change of face, which is the index of the interior. Change the exterior, indicated by the change in clothes. Let our every day be a continuous journey of removing the shades of darkness that reduce our glow. Let it be a vibrant march of regaining our lost radiance. Let the light of Christ make our hearts, and our life, brighter, with more hope and more renewal.
Practice: When frightened by the adversities of life, let us not lose heart or hope. Let us turn to the transfigured Lord and strengthen our faith. Let us be confirmed about our own transfiguration and thus deepen our hope{alertSuccess}