Churches of the Day

06-08-The Transfiguration of the Lord , Feast
C/f A short look at this Feast can be found below today's Readings and Reflection

 FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Prophet Daniel 7:9-10. 13-14
His robe as white as snow.

As I watched:
'Thrones were set in place and One of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

A court was held and the books were opened.
'I gazed into the visions of the night. And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a Son of Man.
He came to the One of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.'

The Word of the Lord.            Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm           Ps 96: 1-2.5-6. 9.R/v 1.9.
Response                                The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.

1. The Lord is king, let earth rejoice, let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment; his throne, justice and right.                   Response

2. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice; all peoples see his glory.                                      Response

3. For you indeed are the Lord most high above all the earth
exalted far above all spirits.                                                                                        Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the second letter of St Peter 1:16-19
We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven.

It was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we had seen his majesty for ourselves. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour'. We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have confirmation of what was said in prophecies; and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds.

The Word of the Lord.      Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation    Mt 17:5
Alleluia, alleluia!
This is my Son, the Beloved, he enjoys my favour; listen to him.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you             And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 17:1-9         Glory to you, O Lord

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew
His face shone like the sun.

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him.
Then Peter spoke to Jesus.
'Lord,' he said 'it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.'
He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, 'This is my Son; the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.'
When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. 'Stand up,' he said 'do not be afraid.' And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.

As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order,
'Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.'

The Gospel of the Lord.         Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.



 Gospel Reflection       6th August,     Thursday,       The Transfiguration of the Lord           

There are very few incidents in the life of Jesus that have a feast of their own. We have the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the feast of his Baptism; we remember his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. The transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain in the presence of three of his disciples has its own feast too, which we celebrate today. It suggests the importance of this incident in the life of Jesus and in our own understanding of Jesus. Just before Jesus’ transfiguration, he had spoken to his disciples for the first time about his forthcoming passion and death. The disciples, and Peter in particular, struggled to accept and understand what Jesus had to say.

Perhaps, through this experience of Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, Jesus wanted to give his disciples a glimpse of what lay beyond the passion and death that awaited him in Jerusalem. In the words of the voice from heaven, Jesus was God’s beloved Son. He remained God’s beloved Son as he hung from the cross. The loving hands of God would reverse what human hands had done to Jesus. God would bring Jesus, his beloved Son, through the suffering and death that had been inflicted on him, into a new and glorious life, of which the disciples on the mountain were now given a glimpse. The disciples were transfixed by what they saw on that occasion; Peter, in particular, wanted to prolong this vision of the glorified Jesus, this vision of heaven. I suppose if any of us had such a vision of heaven, we wouldn’t want to let it go either.

If Jesus is God’s beloved Son in a unique sense, we are all God’s beloved sons and daughters. As Jesus declares in John’s gospel, ‘as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you’. Just as God ensured that suffering and death would not have the last word in relation to Jesus, God will ensure that suffering and death will not have the last word in our regard either. When we look upon the transfigured Jesus, we are also looking upon our own ultimate destiny. St Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians suggests that something of this glorious destiny that awaits us can become a reality in our lives here and now, ‘all of us… seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’.

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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from Reflections on the Weekday Readings : Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

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Feast of the Day: 06-08; The Transfiguration of the Lord , Feast

This Feast of the Lord's Transfiguration  seems to have been chosen in order to be exactly forty days before 14th September, (the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross), This feast began to be celebrated in and around Jerusalem in the fourth and fifth centuries.

Patrick Duffy notes its history and significance.

A major feast at Constantinople
There have been churches on Mt Tabor from as early as the fourth Century AD. The feast probably reached Constantinople during the time of the great hymn-writer Andrew of Crete (c. 660-740), who was a monk at the 'Church of the Holy Sepulchre' in Jerusalem from 675 until 685, when he moved to serve at the Great Church of Sancta Sophia, Constantinople. Later he became Archbishop of Gortyna in Crete. It was a major feast, which developed a magnificent series of hymns and readings.

Spain, Cluny and Rome

[caption id="attachment_104669" align="alignright" width="236"] Callixtus III, Papa ; 8 /4/1455 – 6 /8/1458[/caption]

The feast appeared in the West, first in Spain in the eleventh century, then at Cluny, when Peter the Venerable was abbot (1122-56). Its introduction to Rome is associated with the Christian defeat of the Turks at Belgrade on 22 July 1456. The news reached Rome on 6th August, so Pope Callixtus III (Alfons de Borja 1455-8), a Valencian sensitive to the memory of Moorish domination in Spain, decreed it as a feast for the Roman Church beginning on 6th August 1457.

Gospels' account
All three of the synoptic Gospels – Mark, Matthew, and Luke – give us an account of the Transfiguration of Jesus on top of Mount Tabor (Mark 9:1-8, Matthew 17:1-6, Luke 9:28-36). After Peter’s confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the One sent by God to redeem mankind, and Jesus' prediction of His own passion and death, Jesus, together with three of His disciples – Peter, James, the son of Zebedee, and John – went up the mountain.

Moses and Elijah
Matthew says Jesus "was transfigured before them. His face shone as the sun: his garments became white as snow". Two other figures appeared with Him: Moses and Elijah. Christ thus stood between the two of the most prominent figures in the Old Testament. Then, a voice was heard from above saying, "This is My Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him."

Significance
Jesus ordered the three not to tell others what they had seen until he had risen on the third day. Even if they did not fully comprehend what had happened on Mount Tabor, for the apostles Peter, James, and John, it was a glimpse of the glories of heaven and of sharing in the resurrection of Christ promised to all who believe in Jesus as the One promised by God. That event served as an inspiration for them to persevere and be steadfast in their faith in Jesus who would suffer and die but would be resurrected after three days.

Symbol and hope of glory
Jesus's transfiguration is the symbol and hope of our glory in heaven. For us celebrating the Feast of the Lord’s Transfiguration today - we hope it will give us some foretaste of our own 'Easter' rising.

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Memorable quote for today

Todays liturgy is a short lived taste of eternal joy f,
so that they (The apostles/us) might bear persecution bravely.

~ The Venerable St Bede ~ 

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Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING

A reading from the first Book of Kings       19:9. 11-13
Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.


When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then the word of the Lord came to him saying, '
What are you doing here, Elijah?' Then he was told, 'Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.' Then the Lord himself went by.
There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But The Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze.
And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

The Word of the Lord.              Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm           Ps 84:9-14. R/v.8
Response                               Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.

1. I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace.
His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land.    Response

2. Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven. Response

3. The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps.                         Response

4. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us.          Response

SECOND READING

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Romans        9:1-5
I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers.

What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ - it is the truth - my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them.
They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.

The Word of the Lord.        Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation      Lk 19: 38
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!

Or                                     Ps 129: 5
Alleluia, alleluia!
My Soul is waiting on the Lord, I count on his word
Alleluia!

GOSPEL 

The Lord be with you              And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew         14:22-33
Tell me to come to you across the water.

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind.

In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. 'It is a ghost' they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.'
It was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said 'if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.'
'Come' said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord! Save me!' he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. 'Man of little faith,' he said 'why did you doubt?' And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, 'Truly, you are the Son of God'.

The Gospel of the Lord     Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/




Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.