YOU CAN TRANSFIGURE

...His face changed – Luke 9:29

He hated it every time his elementary school teacher said, “Ok class find your height.”

The reason? He was always first in the rowbecause he’s “pandakekok” (shorty).

A bully would lift him by his collar and ask, “Want a fight?” He’d reply, “Do to me what you want!” The bully would give him a headlock and call on other toughies because he was “lampayatot” (beanpole).

Adolescence came, he courted young girls, only to get busted. Their reason? He’s like a “tigyawat na tinubuan ng mukha” (literally, a pimple that grew a face). Worse, he was an asthmatic. If others had a mission statement, he had a kunsumisyon ( angry) statement: “There is no more hope in my life.”

Then Jesus entered his life! This “pandakekok,” “lampayatot,” and “tigyawat na tinubuan ng mukha” asthmatic graduated a scholar from UP; landed a job in a company that sponsored him for another scholarship and finished his M.A. again at UP; and at a tender age of 19 went around proclaiming,

“In Christ, there will always be the hope in your life!” He got married to a beautiful lady and they now have a handsome son.

That was my life before and my life now. Christ makes the difference. Only He transfigures! Obet C.

REFLECTION:

I am beautiful; I am loved; I am forgiven by the mercy of God” - St. Catherine

O Jesus, transfigure us into Your own image. Amen.

Daniel 7:9-10.13-14

This text from Daniel gives a fairly spectacular description of the glory associated with the throne of the Lord. It speaks to us of the majesty and power of God to the point that our only proper reaction or response is to stand in awe of God. It is this sense of wonder and awe that is often missing from religious life today. We are in danger of losing it and thus recreate God in our own image within our own scientific categories. This will not do as it deprives God of the fullness of His power and majesty.

9 As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. 10 A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. 13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, 14 He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

P S A L M

Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

R: The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.

1 The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (R) 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. (R) 9 Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods. (R)

2nd READING

2 Peter 1:16-19

Peter reports to us his experience of the event of the Transfiguration. He affirms it in order to honor and glorify God. This example of Peter teaches us not to focus upon the extraordinary nature of any spiritual experience but to discern what it is that God is saying to us through that experience. Use it to light the way on your salvation journey or else the experience will become but a happy memory and have no lasting impact on your life!

16 We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been  eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

G O S P E L

Luke 9:28-36

At the Transfiguration we learn something more of the origins of Jesus with the Father. Jesus is the Beloved Son who does what is pleasing to the Lord and as such we should be listening to Him. Why? Because the words that Jesus speak are words that have the power to bring us eternal life if we appropriate them in our lives. This is the power of the Gospel. This is the power of the witness of the life of the only Son of God! The Father wants to make it quite clear to us who Jesus is and remove any doubts as to His origins from our minds. We have no excuse along the lines, “I did not know who Jesus was and what I should do.”

28 Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 29 While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. 34 While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

my reflections

think: Jesus is the Beloved Son who does what is pleasing to the Lord and as such we should be listening to Him.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 4-6

GETTING TO KNOW THE SAINTS

Saint Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony of Padua, baptized as Ferdinand , was born in Portugal in 1195. The young Ferdinand received an excellent education from the Augustinian order.

His life-turning experience took place when he was 25. Ferdinand learned about the fate of a group of Franciscans, headed by Saint Bernard. During a mission, Saint Bernard and his companions were martyred by the Moors in Morocco. Since then, the saint had a strong desire to die for Jesus.

Ferdinand joined the Franciscan order and took the name Anthony . Anthony was assigned to preach to the Moors in Africa. But not long after, he became sick and had to return to Italy. Since no one knew how intelligent and talented he was, the Franciscan superiors sent him to a quiet friary in Italy. He served the congregation by washing pots and pans. One day, at a large gathering of priests, Anthony gave a sermon which caught the attention of many. From then on, he was tasked to preach all over Italy.

Saint Anthony of Padua died at the age of 36 on June 13, 1231 at Arcella.He was canonized by Pope Gregory IX a year later. Miracles took place through the intercession of the saint ; thus, he was called the Wonder Worker . Years after his canonization, because of his knowledge in the Sacred Scripture, the saint was also proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII.

http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/saintday/m6.html

Jesus and three of His disciples, Peter, James and John, ascend Mt. Tabor, otherwise known as the Mount of Transfiguration and there receive a vision of Moses and Elijah. As usual the disciples do not really know what to do and so Peter offers to build tents for them all. However, all they really need to do, just as it is for us today, is listen for God’s word and allow Him to reveal Himself to us.

This is a lesson to us today as I believe too often we insist on talking to God rather than listening to what He might have to say to us. One way of teaching ourselves to listen is to go before the Blessed Sacrament with only a bible and spend time gazing upon the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It is not necessary to fill our time of prayer with endless novenas and devotions. These have their place but so does listening. Have you ever reflected why we have two ears and one mouth? Perhaps it is to indicate to us that we should spend twice as much time listening as we do talking. People come to me in my capacity as a priest and ask me what I think they should be doing as regards their faith walk. When I talk to them a bit about it I often discover that they have not really asked God what He wants them to do, or if they have gotten that far, they have not sat in silence listening for an answer for more than a couple of minutes. Sometimes God takes a while to answer our questions and thus we need to learn to be patient and wait upon the timing of the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION QUESTION: Am I a good listener to God or do I tend to fill my prayer with words that can sometimes be a distraction to what God wants me to do?

Lord Jesus, help me to open my heart more fully to Your will through becoming a better listener. Help me to hear Your voice in the midst of all the noise that surrounds my life.

Martyrs of Cardena, pray for us.