Today’s Readings:
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14
Ps 97:1-2,5-6,9
2 Peter 1:16-19
Matthew 17:1-9
What is your hope? Today is the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. Jesus reveals His divine nature and glory to His Apostles as they prayed on Mount Tabor. With this revelation, we are assured of heavenly glory by following Christ. The Father’s words summarise our hope in these hard times: “This is my Son, the Beloved, he enjoys my favour. Listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).
“This is my Son, the Beloved”. Jesus is God the Son, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is God and man; two natures in one. He has felt the full range of human emotions from pleasure to pain, companionship to isolation, love from family and friends to bitter persecution from foes and adversaries. He was tempted in every way that you have, and he overcame them all. He spent time in prayer because that is the only source of supernatural strength available to us. He knows all that you have been through and he wants to walk every step with you. When the Father said, “This is my Son,” He wants us to emulate his example and become true children of God. You are God’s child through baptism. Live out each day in the spirit of your divine adoption, using Christ as your model. You can do it because God is always with you.
“He enjoys my favour”. Jesus enjoyed the Father’s favour because he was always united in heart, body and soul to Him. Jesus says of His union with the Father, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus is united with the Father in his Godhead. He is also united with God the Father in his will. He says, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). The work the Father sent Jesus to do, is to save you and I from slavery to sin and from eternal death which is the consequence of sin (Romans 6:23). Jesus accomplished his mission by “doing good” to everyone he met (Acts 10:38) and paying the ultimate price by his sacrificial death on the Cross. By this, he breaks Satan’s hold on us and frees us to strive after holiness, happiness and peace. We too enjoy God’s favour when we serve others with our gifts, not so that they will serve us in return but that through our actions, others have reasons to pay it forward until our world becomes better and we are made ready for heaven our true home.
“Listen to Him”. The Father wants us to listen to Jesus. Our world will be a better place if we listen more. Jesus learnt obedience by spending time in prayer, listening to the Father and pouring out his heart in prayer. We too can learn to listen at the feet of Jesus in prayer. In prayer, God reveals our true identity to us and His plans for us. It was at prayer that Daniel had a vision of heaven. It was while praying on Mount Tabor that Jesus revealed his glory to Peter, James and John. Peter grew in conviction because he has seen God’s glory. Prayer also reveals the glory of God in you. You possess and carry around with you the glory of God in your body.
You may not see it but others do and that is what attracts them to you. St. Paul asks us, “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19,20). Knowing who you are should make you think differently about yourself and act lovingly towards others. Let God’s glory be evident in your word, thoughts and actions henceforth.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
Prayer:
Praise ye the Lord; Blessed is the man that fears the Lord and delights greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
Lord may your glory be revealed in me.
Take delight in my thoughts, words and actions.
Drive far from me all persons and works of iniquity.
May I live for your glory alone Lord, in Jesus' name.
Thank You Lord, for uniting the body of Christ for their mandate, in Jesus name.
Thank You Lord, for moving Nigeria forward, in Jesus name. Amen.
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