This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, August 6th is from Matthew 17:1-9.
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, 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. . . .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.”
Reflection
“God explicitly commands the disciples to listen to Jesus. He told you that he would be put to death. Listen to him. He told you that you must carry your crosses. Listen to him. He promised you that he will be raised and come again in glory to repay you. Listen to him. Our world has always been in need of transformation. We need to deny our own priorities, our own desires, our own self-interests, and take up the challenge to uncover and reveal the kingdom that God is building in our midst.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Summer 2023
“Listen to Jesus and follow him. That is the message of the Transfiguration. In the Transfiguration Jesus shows us the glory of the Resurrection, a glimpse of heaven on earth.”
—Pope Francis
The Transfiguration aims at strengthening the apostles’ faith in anticipation of his Passion: the ascent onto the ‘high mountain’ prepares for the ascent to Calvary. Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what his Body contains and radiates in the sacraments the ‘hope of glory.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church #568)
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday Numbers 11:4b-15; Matthew 14:13-21
Tuesday Numbers 12:1-13; Matthew 14:22-36
Saint Dominic, Priest (Memorial) – “Born in Spain, Dominic de Guzman began his priestly life as a cathedral canon. He adopted an austere lifestyle of begging and preaching and laid the foundations for the new Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) for both women and men.”
Wednesday Numbers 13:1-2, 25—14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35; Matthew 15:21-28
Thursday 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26
Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (Feastl) – “According to tradition, when asked to surrender the Church’s riches, Lawrence gathered the poor and said they were the Church’s real treasure. For this affront, he was put to death. He was the most venerated Roman martyr of the early Church and is a patron of Rome.”
Friday Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Matthew 16:24-28
Saint Clare, Virgin (Memorial) – “Born in Assisi, at age eighteen she heard Francis of Assisi preach and was inspired by his message. The Poor Clares practiced radical poverty and she was greatly respected as a ‘new leader of women.’”
Saturday Deuteronomy 6:4-13; Matthew 17:14-20
SOURCE: Living with Christ, August 2023