Listen to him

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, when Peter, John, and James saw our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his glory.

As Catholics, we are blessed to experience this during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, when heaven opens and the Holy Spirit descends and changes the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus is truly present with us at Mass and he dwells inside of us - physically - when we receive him at Holy Communion. And, after having received the Lord in the Eucharist and we return to the pews and pray, we can almost hear the Father whisper in our hearts: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

The Father tells us to listen to His Son who He sent because our Lord Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Christ invites us to come and follow him, to carry out his mission on earth, the mission of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Therefore, after we have experience the glory of God in the Mass, we must go forth and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, in our words and how we live our lives as Christian witnesses in the world, to be "a lamp shining in a dark place." Our Lord and our God sent his Spirit to be with us "until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

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Gospel of the Day

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up a 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.