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Gospel Reading: Extracted from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.

Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him.

Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’

When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear.

But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’

And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.

           As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’

 

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30 March 2014

First reading: Extracted from the book of Genesis 12:1-4

The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.

‘I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you.

All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’

So Abram went as the Lord told him.

 

Who is Abram?

Abram is “Abraham”. The Lord gave him the name “Abraham” when he was 99 years old. The Lord told him that he would be “the father of a multitude of nations”. The Lord then promised that a son would be given to him by his wife Sarah. Sarah was then 89 years old (cf. Genesis 17).

The ‘promised son Isaac’ was born when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah at the age of 90. Isaac is the Ancestor of the Great Nation Israel and some Palestinian Tribes at present.

Today, Abraham is the “father in Faith” of all tribes and nations around the World who belong to Christ & imitate Abraham. They are destined to inherit the World as promised by God (cf. Romans 4:13, 17)

See the Blessings of Abraham > Encouragements-259

Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

 

The word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted.

The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love.

 

The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love,

to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.

 

Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Second reading: Extracted from the second letter of Saint Paul to Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:8-10

With me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy – not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace.

This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News.