Sunday, August 6, 2006
Transfiguration of the Lord
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalms 97:1-2,5-6,9
2 Peter 1:16-19; Mark 9:2-10


Daily Gospel

Greetings (see the Gospel)

Today God our Father tells us:
This is my beloved Son.
Listen to him.
May the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ
resound in your hearts and in your lives.
May the Lord be with you always. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

Sometimes in life it happens that we begin to see in a completely new light someone we have known for a long time, with qualities and potentials we never thought of. This was the experience of the apostles at the transfiguration of Jesus. He was surprisingly different and greater than they had imagined. Now they understood him better, they enjoyed his presence more deeply and they were more eager to listen to him. The change they saw in Jesus made it easier for them, too, to change and to become more like Jesus. May this become our experience also as we celebrate this eucharist.

Penitential Act

"Listen to him," says the Father about Jesus
Often we have not listened to him;
we now ask him for forgiveness and life.
         (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, God's beloved Son,
you walk by our side on the dusty road of life.
Brighten our path:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, God's beloved Son,
you reflect God's glory.
Transform us with you:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, God's beloved Son,
the way of the cross led you to glory.
Make us bear our crosses with you:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and let the light of your glory
drive away from us the evil of sin.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to God
who has made us his sons and daughters
in Jesus, his beloved Son
(PAUSE)
Lord our God,
at the transfiguration of Jesus
you gave eyes of faith to the apostles
to see beyond appearances
and to recognize Jesus as your beloved Son.
Strengthen our faith too
in the person and message of your Son.
Help us to recognize something of his face
in our brothers and sisters
and to encounter him in one another,
that we may journey with him
and share in his glory for ever. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: The Son of Man
      At a time of persecution, the prophet sees a vision of a transfigured world. The son of man - symbolizing God's people, perhaps the Messiah - will no longer suffer but be honored and will share in God's glory.

First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

         Daniel said, "I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, his hair white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire.

          A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.

"Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book.
"I continued watching the nocturnal vision:
"One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence.

          "Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed."

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

R (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Second Reading Introduction: Like a Lamp Lighting the Way
      The apostles present at the transfiguration did not fully realize what was going on. Later they understood and testified that Jesus is not a myth but the foundation of faith and life.

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-19

         Indeed, what we taught you about the power and the return of Christ Jesus our Lord was not drawn from myths or formulated theories. We ourselves were eyewitnesses of his majesty, when he received glory and honor from God the Father, when from the magnificent Glory this most extraordinary word came upon him: "This is my beloved Son, this is my Chosen One." We ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

        Therefore, we believe most firmly in the message of the prophets which you should consider rightly as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the break of day, when the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

Gospel Introduction: The True Face of Jesus
After Jesus had spoken to his apostles about his coming suffering, Jesus and the apostles - and we - are given a vision of the glory and resurrection that will come.

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:2-10

        Jesus took Peter, John and James and led them up a high mountain. There his appearance was changed before their eyes. Even his clothes shone, becoming as white as no bleach of this world could make them. Elijah and Moses appeared to them; the two were talking with Jesus.

         Then Peter spoke and 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." For he did not know what to say; they were overcome with awe. But a cloud formed, covering them in a shadow, and from the cloud came this word, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him." And suddenly, as they looked around, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus with them.

         As they came down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man be risen from the dead. So they kept this to themselves, although they discussed with one another what 'to rise from the dead' could mean.

Commentary

The vision of Daniel is of the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven to receive glory and honor, kingship and dominion over the heavens and earth. This son of man comes before the Ancient One, God in glory. This is the power and awesomeness of God. This is Jesus, the beloved Son of God, upon whom God's grace rests; the prophet, the Crucified and Risen One, the Lord. We must never lose sight of who Jesus is-like a light in the dark, until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in our hearts. We know we must face rejection, the cross and death, but we also will face God in glory. We are to listen only to the Word of God, not what is around us or the fear inside us.

General Intercessions

Let us pray to God in all confidence, for he has accepted us as his sons and daughters in his beloved Son Jesus Christ. Let us say to him: R/ Lord, let us live in the light of Christ.

- That the face of the Church may always reflect the light of the glorious Christ; that her glory may be not wealth or power but the quiet glow of the living gospel, let us pray: R/ Lord, let us live in the light of Christ.

- That the spirituality of the Orthodox Churches, which is marked by the transfiguration, may also inspire the Catholic Church more and bring us closer to unity, let us pray: R/ Lord, let us live in the light of Christ.

- That artists may keep revealing to us the splendors of God's creation; that scientists may discover the secrets of the universe and use them to develop people and their world, let us pray: R/ Lord, let us live in the light of Christ.

- That we may brighten the faces of those who suffer with words of encouragement and hope; that we may learn from Christ to encounter one another without masks or screens and seek together the light of truth and love, let us pray: R/ Lord, let us live in the light of Christ.

- That we may be men and women liberated in Christ, committed to transfigure this world with justice and freedom for all, and learning to love one another the way God loves us in Christ, let us pray: R/ Lord, let us live in the light of Christ.

God, your glory brightened the face of Jesus, your Son. Let his light dawn on us like a new sunrise full of promise. Create us and the world anew in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
all we see before us
is a piece of bread
and a cup with wine.
Yet we believe that soon these will be
your Son living among us.
Let him come alive in us
and guide us by his Holy Spirit,
that with him we may hear your call
and go through the hardships and joys of life
with faces brightened by hope
and by the certainty
that you have prepared for us
glory and happiness
that will last for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

With Jesus our Lord, God's own beloved Son, we give now thanks and praise to the Father, sure that the Father will accept our offering.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

Let us pray to our Father in heaven
who told us to listen to his beloved Son.
We have listened, and with Jesus
we pray the prayer of the children of God: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us peace in our day.
Keep us from indifference and anxiety
and help us see beyond the events of life
the deeper reality of things and persons,
your guiding hand, your love and your call,
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion

This is the body of Jesus Christ,
the beloved Son of the Father in heaven.
His glory is hidden to us,
yet he is light in our darkness
and the transfiguration of our lives.
Happy are we who have not seen his glory,
yet believe that he is our Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
by the power of Jesus, our transfigured Lord,
you call us to transform this world
in the image of Jesus, your Son.
Rip off our masks,
that we may meet and accept one another
as we are and together try to be
what you have called us to be.
Commit us to justice and love,
that we may change this harsh and cold world
into a sign and token
that you are with us
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

In his transfiguration
Jesus revealed his deepest self.
May we believe in him
as the source of all transfiguration
of ourselves, of our mentality,
of this earth.
And may Christ be our strength
to work toward this transfiguration,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace
and let your face be bright
with the radiance of Christ's light. R/ Thanks be to God.

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