REFLECTIONS TODAY
First Reading • Gn 15:5-12, 17-18
The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.
He then said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” “O Lord God,” he asked, “how Am I to know that I shall possess it?” He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.
When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”
Gospel • Luke 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 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.
While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
Light shining in darkness
There is similarity and difference between Jesus’ transfiguration and what transpires on the cross. Both happen on a mountain. In the transfiguration, however, there is the blinding light of Jesus’ face; at the crucifixion, the depressing darkness of agony on his face. At the transfiguration, his garment shines; at the crucifixion, he is stripped of his clothing. At the transfiguration, he converses with two great prophets; at the crucifixion, with one of the two thieves.
Crucifixion is grim and dark. The torture of Jesus is unbearable. His disciples lose courage and abandon him. This is perhaps the reason why the transfiguration happens before the crucifixion: for Jesus to assure his disciples that he is the true light who will dispel all darkness, even the darkness of despair on the cross.
Our time is still engulfed by darkness brought about by poverty, violence, exclusion, selfishness, hedonism, and injustice. The world needs to be transfigured by the light of Christ. Jesus tells us that in reflecting his light, we become the light of the world. We are called and challenged: illumine the world! Illumine with the light of truth the darkness of evil! Jesus empowers us to shine with his light.
Jesus is calling us to be a shining beacon of truth amidst lies and despair. Be vigilant and bear the light of truth!
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.