They became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son, listen to

       My son, David, is visually impaired. He could only see with his left eye when he was born. When he was four, he needed to undergo a corneal transplant to save his left eye. His body rejected it. He underwent another one and it failed again. I was so disheartened. I thought this operation was the answer to our prayers for my son to be able to see.

       There are times in our lives when we’re so sure that this was God’s answer to our fervent prayer. Then something happens that dashes our hopes to the ground. When you find yourself in this predicament, trust that God is bigger than your problem. He is in control. Always.

       As for David, I don’t really know how much he can see now. But this much I know — he can play Temple Run with his iPad and get really high scores while I can’t even get past 10 points. He can play Mario Kart games on Nintendo DS with his eye one inch from the screen. Oh, and he told me this afternoon that his crush wore a beautiful red ribbon on her hair today! Yes, I have a big God. Ronna Singson-Ledesma (ronna_ledesma@yahoo.com.ph)

Reflection: “Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings or providential circumstances... which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God. Yet it is through these grey clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith.” (Oswald Chambers)

Lord, may I always listen to Your voice whenever I find myself engulfed by a cloud of uncertainty.

St. Hormisdas, pope, pray for us. 

The Old Testament prophets received some very spectacular visions. To understand them, we need to reflect on the message of the vision and pray to the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts according to God’s will for us.

DANIEL 7:9-10, 13-14

9 As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, 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 the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

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)

Peter speaks about the honor and glory that God deserves from us. Let us reflect on this as the “culture of respect” for elders is fading in most societies around the world. We must remember to give honor and glory to God at every opportunity.

2 PETER 1:16-19

16 Beloved: 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.

Jesus is transfigured before James, John and Peter. Moses and Elijah appear, the great figures of the Old Testament, in whom we see the traditions of the Law and Spirit respectively. What is Jesus saying to us today through this event? He wants us to see that the traditions of Moses and Elijah are fulfilled in Him and are passed on to the Church through the Apostles. Jesus is the bridge between the old and the new. Through Him, we understand what God was saying then and what He continues to say now.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.

LUKE 9:28-36

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.

think: Jesus is the bridge between the old and the new. Through Him, we understand what God was saying then and what He continues to say now.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Maccabees 11-12  

TRANSFIGURE, NOT DISFIGURE

I often see people who are disfigured. Many expect the worst instead of hoping for the best, consumed by problems and difficulties. We are disfigured because of our wrong belief that we are meant to be miserable and depressed. But we are not created to live in defeat. It is a big mistake to cling to a false belief that we are hopeless. In this Feast of the Transfiguration, we are accompanied by Jesus, our Shining Light, to rediscover our power.

       While they were talking about Jesus’ fast approaching death, His face turned bright. His clothes became dazzling white, a biblical description for martyrdom. The divine light shines through Him, dispelling the darkness of the earth. Jesus’ appearance is awesome, amazing, terrifying and exhilarating. Jesus was clearly headed toward His impending martyrdom. What a paradox! They were talking about His death, and yet He transfigured. In front of death, Jesus revealed His power. He revealed Himself as the light of the world, enlightening everyone, giving life and guiding everyone through the darkness.

       We are called to reconfigure our lives so that we become instruments for His light to shine through us. In Jesus, we can find our way amidst the darkness. He is the Light of God. Where does His power come from? In the face of the dark power of death, His light shines. He draws power from the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. We are also children of God. Jesus, our brother, invites us to be reconnected to God who is our only power. In God, we receive the light. With Jesus, we are no longer in the dark. His light opens a way for us to live, no longer in fear and anger but in love and peace.

      The transfiguration story invites us to rediscover our power as children of God. Amidst the suffering in our world, we can transfigure because we are in the presence of God. Fr. Alex Balatbat

REFLECTION QUESTION: Ponder those moments when you have felt the presence of God in your life — those times when you felt Jesus’ light shining around you.

Lord Jesus, give me the grace to become your faithful disciple, that my life may reflect Your life, that my story may be part of Your story, that my journey may continue Your journey. Amen.