" This is my Son, the Beloved, my Chosen One. Listen to him." 

A cloud during the Transfiguration of Jesus,

 It identifies Jesus as His beloved Son,

affirming His divine authority and commissioning the disciples

—and believers— to listen to and obey Him.  

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Genesis 12:1-4a

The Lord said to Abram,

"Leave your country, your family and your father's house, for the land I will show you.

I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse,

and in you all people of the earth will be blessed."

So Abram went as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.

 

Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20,22

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

2 Timothy 1:8b-10

Do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord, nor of seeing me in chains.

On the contrary, do your share in laboring for the gospel, with the strength of God.

He saved us and called us-a calling which proceeds from his holiness.

This did not depend on our merits, but on his generosity and his own initiative.

 

This calling, given to us from all time, in Christ Jesus has just been

manifested with the glorious appearance of Christ Jesus, our

Lord, who destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light, in his gospel.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James, and his brother John,

and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone.

Jesus' appearance was changed before them: his face shone like the sun,

and his clothes became white as snow. Then suddenly,

Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.

 

Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here.

If you wish, I will make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Peter was still speaking, when a bright cloud covered them with its shadow;

and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, my Chosen One. Listen to him."

On hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground, full of fear.

 

But Jesus came, touched them, and said, "Stand up, do not be afraid!"

When they raised their eyes, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus.

And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone

what they had seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 Lectio Divina

Remain open to God's words.

Read: The overarching thread for today's liturgy is "Journey."

The first reading presents God's call to Abram to leave his country and journey to a land

God has prepared for him to become a great nation. In the second reading,

St. Paul exhorted Timothy to remain committed to his journey as a minister of the gospel of the Lord.

The gospel presents the Lord's transfiguration as he journeys from Galilee to Jerusalem.

 

Reflect: The Lord's transfiguration showed the glory that awaits him.

That same glory was meant to inspire Jesus's disciples as they journeyed

with him to his passion and death in Jerusalem. In our life's journey,

the Lord accompanies us and reminds us of our destination, the glory reserved for the faithful disciples.

 

We can only be successful in this journey and reach our goal if we remain faithful to the Father's words in the gospel:

"This is my beloved Son, listen to him." To stay focused on the journey, let us remain open to God's words

that remind us of the right way, pace, and attitude. We also remember that

we are all pilgrims in this synodal journey toward the Father,

so let us be sensitive and help each other along the way.

 

Pray: God, our Father, give us hearts that remain sensitive to your voice.

 

Act: Give a helping hand or a listening ear to a person in need.