First Reading: Genesis 15. 5 -12, 17 – 18
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 27)
Second Reading: Philippians 3. 17 – 41
Gospel. Luke 9.28b – 36
There was a little old man who was seen each Sunday walking to church in the rain, the snow
or the blazing sun. You would see like clockwork this old man making his way to church every
Sunday morning of his adult life. You could set your watch by his weekly trek. The one
unique thing about this man was that he was 100 per cent deaf. He could not hear a word of
the sermon, he could not hear the music, and he could not hear the voices of the congregation.
One Sunday a new person on the block, a scoffer, confronted the old man on his way to church
and asked, “I see you every week waling past my house to church. Why do you spend your
Sundays in that church? You can’t hear a thing that is going on there, why bother? Why not sit
at home and watch TV?”

The old man looked at the new resident on the block and said, “First of all, even though I am
not able to hear the voices or the music, I know without a doubt that the Lord is there and I can
feel his presence. Secondly, I walk this walk every week no matter what the condition, because
I want my neighbor to know which side I am on, and what I stand for.”

The lesson we can learn from this story is this: ‘Take a firm stand, let everyone know what you
believe in, tell them what side you are on.’ The little old man knew who he was. He was
sacrificing for others so they see him as a living testimony. His witness was drawing them to
ask questions about his habits. The neighbour saw one thing but the little old man showed him
something greater. This is what Christianity today is about, it’s ‘your witness’ they are looking
at under a microscope. Looking to see faults and cracks in your testimony.

The testimony of your life is what will draw or repel others to the Lord or from the Lord. It is
all done without you saying a word.

Saint Paul in today’s second reading invites us to be ‘imitators’ for Christ. “For many live as
enemies of the Cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with
tears. Their end is destruction; their God is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their
minds are set on early things.

Saint Paul continues saying, ‘But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are
expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that
it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all
thing subject to himself.”

Jesus was transfigured on the high mountain. It was He who started to shine. While Jesus
shone, everything around Him picked up that shine; the grass, the mountains and their tops, the
birds and the insects, Peter, James and John. A voice was heard. The voice said: “Listen to
him,” do what he suggests, change yourself according to his model, according to his Spirit, and
all the rest will follow. In this way, Jesus made it clear to his disciples what would happen to
this world if we, his disciples, change and start to shine.

Our homeland is in heaven and from heaven comes the Savior we have been waiting for, the
Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven is our final destination, it is our longed for home, nothing else will
suffice and we will experience a restlessness, until we finally it.

As Jesus was transformed on the mountain, the disciples Peter, James and John were also
changed by Jesus. They determined to follow Jesus despite the hardships that would come.
Peter was martyred, crucified upside down at his behest as tradition says. James was killed by
Herod. John was imprisoned into his old age. They were willing to sacrifice their lives for the
Gospel because they were transformed by Jesus. Will we allow the same truths to transform us
and give us courage to be witnesses for Jesus?

Jesus had done some amazing things: he had healed the sick, calmed the sea, and even raised
the dead. But at the Transfiguration he revealed his divinity in all its glory. Not only did the
three disciples witness the radiance of Jesus’ face and clothing, but they also heard the Father
calling him “my chosen Son” (Luke 9:35).

Yet while Jesus was on earth, his glory remained mostly hidden. Yes, the disciples witnessed
his miracles. But he was a man just like them he lived, breathed, ate, and slept among them.
What faith it must have required for them to believe that in this man, God was actually present
with them!

We also need faith, not only to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but that he is actually
present with us. Because he is, in the mystery of the Eucharist, every time an in every place
where Holy Eucharist is celebrated. To all appearances, the Eucharist looks like ordinary bread
and wine. But in reality, the consecrated Host and the Precious Blood is truly Jesus. He is with
us in every way – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

And not only is Jesus present. He loves us so much that he asks us to consume his Body and
his Blood. Each and every time we receive him, he is as close to us as he can possibly be in
this life. And each and every time, he gives us the grace and strength to follow his
commandment to love him and one another.

On Mount tabor that day, Peter, John and James got a rare glimpse of Jesus of Jesus in all his
glory. As the priest lifts up the Host on the altar, imagine Jesus as he was at the
Transfiguration, his face radiant and his clothes dazzling white. Then kneel down in awe and
worship Him.

God bless.