P S A L M - Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
R: I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
2ND READING - Romans 8:31-34
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
Mark 9:2-10
2 Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.
| SABBATH | ||
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO FOLLOW JESUS?
I consider two events in my life as Jesus’ Transfigurations before me: my ordination and my being saved from drowning. Those experiences told me quite clearly that life is important. The life that God gave me has a purpose — and it’s for His purpose. Those events drove me to follow Him and continuously trust Him. They drove me to be ready to offer my life for Him.
In a way, that was what the Apostles James, Peter, and John felt after seeing Jesus transfigured before their eyes. St. Mark described it as, “His clothes were dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.” That was as far as the evangelist can say of the physical manifestation of Jesus’ divinity. It was a foretaste of the glory of God. But it was enough for them to temporarily forget their family, land, livelihood — everything! They were willing to pitch tent there with Jesus. They were so inebriated with His divinity that nothing and no one else mattered.
But it was not yet time for them to be with Jesus. Neither was it for Jesus. Jesus and the Apostles still have a mission. Jesus knew about His impending death. He also knew that the Apostles would be greatly devastated once He went under the attacks of His enemies. The transfiguration was meant to inspire and give them the courage and confidence to go through the coming challenges. It was meant to give them something to hang on to until after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit when everything will be revealed.
So, what more do you need to follow Jesus? With all the miracles and words of Jesus, these should be enough. It would be good to go back to those experiences with Him. We certainly have enough in life to thank God for and make a decision to follow Him.
The ball is in our hands. It is now the time to act. There is no need to shop or look for another God. Who we have right now is more than enough. Fr. Benny Tuazon
REFLECTION QUESTION: Look at your life and make an inventory of what Jesus has done for you. That should be enough reason for you to follow Him.
Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me. Thank You for all that You’ve done, are doing and will do in my life. Grant me a faithful heart to follow You each day of my life.
St. Casimir, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email? To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await. |
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