Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)
Ps 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
1st Reading: Gen 12:1-4a
Yahweh 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 Yahweh had told him, and Lot went with him.
Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
2nd Reading: 2 Tim 1:8b-10
Beloved: 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: Mt 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.“
REFLECTION:
Read: The Call of Abram at the age of 75. Such call proceeds from God’s holiness, on his initiative, and not on our merits. In the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor, some of the apostles are granted a glimpse of the brilliance of God’s holiness.
Reflect: Abram was invited to leave his land and people for a new land that was yet to be shown to him. Between his leaving what he had and reaching what would be shown in future is the liminal land of the unknown and the scary. Thus, responding to God’s call involves a leap into darkness, trusting in God’s holiness. Abram did it and thus defined faith for all generations to come.
Pray: “Here I am, O Lord; I come to do your will.“
Act: Meditate on God’s holiness and your own transience.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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