The Transfiguration of the Lord. Year A --Sunday August 6th 2023 – Episode 432

Readings for The Transfiguration of the Lord
FIRST READING: Dan 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm: 96: 1-2, 5-6, 9 "The Lord is King, the most high over all the earth."
Second reading 2 Pet 1:16-19
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (Mt 17:5). Alleluia, alleluia! This is my son, the beloved. In whom is all my delight. Listen to him. Alleluia.
GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1-9

Please pray for the repose of the soul of a dear friend from my school days, Paul Giacomantonio (8th October 1968- 6th August 2020 – passing away on the feast of the Transfiguration).  May he rest in the peace of Christ forever.    As Saint Mary MacKillop once wrote: "Remember we are all but travellers here."



 
Image: Shutterstock Licensed stock illustration ID: 1206378808. The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Illustration - fresco in Byzantine style.By Julia Raketic
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for The Transfiguration of the Lord. Year A -  by clicking this link here: 
https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-the-transfiguration-of-the-lord-episode-432-year-a-2023/s-RPCUM2kNHyd  

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This feast of the Transfiguration originated in the East in the fourth century as commemorating the dedication of the church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. It was observed in the West from the eighth century and extended to the entire Western Church in the fifteenth century. The feast celebrates the divine radiance shining in Christ's human flesh and God's glory shining forth in the lives of Christians.
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 Jesus was transfigured on the mountaintop and revealed, to these privileged disciples, a truth that would soon become known to countless generations. Jesus is the only begotten son of God.
 
The important thing following this is, "Did the disciples become transfigured (or changed) by this revelation……"   It is important that they eventually did. Because this revelation was for them and us…. To encourage us to look deeply into Jesus' life and learn from what it tells us about God…….   Jesus' life, his words, his actions, his parables, who he ate with, how he treated sinners and outcasts, his way of living, his way of dying…  shows us just what God is like……     and encourages us to learn and take in the values embodied by Jesus life, words and actions……..  to be transfigured, by his example.
 
The old testament has the example of Moses, who, after speaking with God came away literally glowing….his face shining……. The encounter with the God of transformation made him glow……..   I think we can all think of people who, because of their love, compassion, and energy, appear to be radiant… glowing…..     filled with grace and light…..  such people are contagious…. Their energy, vitality, and radiance also are transforming…..
 
Jesus is the best example of them all….. he glows with the divine light of God…… he did this all the time…. Even when this was not physically visible,,,,,  he shone with God's light in happy times, and in times of suffering……….    His life was a transformation, and he invites his followers to walk this difficult path of transformation too….
The feast of the transfiguration is a special one…..   the date also coincides with other world events….…..    Such as today, also being the anniversary of the first atomic bomb ever to explode over a populated region….   Hiroshima…. (Our Prayers are that there be a universal end to weapons of mass destruction and misery….)….  And in this time of suffering and war through the world…. Today is an important opportunity to pay God for peace, understanding, goodwill, and respect between all nations, cultures, and creeds….   A Peace..that only God can give our hearts and minds….  And transforming peace…..   peace that brings the light of hope and peace and love into a world struggling with hatred, violence and revenge…..   May God help break the cycle of violence, retribution and counter-retribution that has wrought tragedy over countless generations through history. …
 
I also note that it's the anniversary of the death of Pope Saint Paul VI, who entered eternal life on this feast of the transfiguration back in 1978.   Reading his biography a few years ago…..   and being struck by Pope Paul's passion and love and his vision for the world, including a vision for peace….. it was Pope Paul who ensured that the Vatican Council begun by Pope John XIII and so transformed the spirit the church to address the needs of today….    Pope Paul kept it going after Pope John's death, halfway through the Council, threatened to derail the work that had begun.

They said of Pope Paul, "It may have needed a saintly man like Pope John to launch the second Vatican council. But the Holy Spirit seemed to need a man of the vision and clarity of Pope Paul to bring it back to port…….   
 
Each and every Christian vocation…    lay, religious priests….   And especially those who are in and amongst the world working with God's Spirit to transform according to God's vision
 Let us pray that God will transform our hearts and mind and transfigure them according to God's goodwill…  and shape our hearts and attitudes according to the mind and heart of Christ and his vision for a world made new…. The Light of the Resurrection, the Light of God's glory… and the light of peace, hope and love.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image: Shutterstock Licensed stock illustration ID: 1206378808. The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Illustration - fresco in Byzantine style.By Julia Raketic


The Transfiguration of the Lord. Year A --Sunday  August 6th 2023 – Episode 432
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
A.              The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.    And with your spirit.
{{Hi}}
 
Coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ, on this Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord, let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries by recalling our sins and remembering Christ's greater mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. Lord have mercy
You grant that all who follow you will have the light of life. christ have mercy.
You lead us through the darkness of this world to the radiant glory of your kingdom. Lord have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
Save us, Saviour of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection,
you have set us free.


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PREFACE: THE MYSTERY OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

(OPENING THEME VARIATION:   verse 2 )
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{{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God. May God's radiant light shine upon and guide us always.....
·              Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
            All:      Thanks be to God.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray," by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney, Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The ….Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
 
"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement Stefan Kelk 2020.

"O Come. Lord. - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968- Feast of the Transfiguration -2020).  Music By Paul W. Kelly.  Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons" and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk
KER 2023

May God bless and keep you. 
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