Created for Glory

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Reading 1 Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.

As the visions during the night continued, I saw:

One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
 

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods. 
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
 

Reading 2 2 Peter 1:16-19

Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 
 

Alleluia Matthew 17:5

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, 
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them; 
his face shone like the sun 
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here, 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, 
then from the cloud came a voice that said, 
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes, 
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone 
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
 

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Created for Glory

August 6, 2026 // Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-19

Reflect on the Word // 

This is all to celebrate one man.

The overwhelming fact brought tears to my eyes as I gazed at the throng of pilgrims in Ford Field for the beatification of Solanus Casey. Some seventy thousand people had descended on Detroit to celebrate this quiet, seemingly insignificant friar. I kept thinking, And this is only a glimmer of the glory that waits for each one of us in Heaven. 

Today’s feast reveals the Lord’s majesty. But if I’m honest, this vision of the Son of Man (see Daniel 7:13) leaves me feeling outcast. I love the warm and accessible Jesus, our Good Shepherd and Healer. But the Son of God Who reigns at the right hand of the Father? Surely there can be no place for me in that glory.

This is when our love for the Lord demands that we raise our eyes and look at Him. We worship a God Who wants us to be “eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). He longs for true friendship with us, which means He wants us to know Him, and He eagerly waits for the day when “we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Even now, He gives us glimpses, flashes of glory that break in on our ordinary lives and keep us striving toward all that awaits us. 

For we will not merely gaze upon His glory for eternity. No, He created us to share in it. When we finally see Him, we have His promise that we will be swept up into His glory. Gazing on Him face to face, “we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). Thus Saint Peter can confidently assure us that “we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable” (2 Peter 1:19). 

For our part, we are called to watch and “be attentive” (2 Peter 1:19) to the flashes of glory in our daily lives that are no mere coincidence, but the loving invitation of our God to know Him better. We have no need to be afraid of His glory, for it is our promise and our hope. 

Relate to the Lord // Meditate on God’s glory today. Spend some time thinking about what Heaven will be like with Him.

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Before You Go…

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