Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Transfiguration of the Lord
† Sunday 6th August 2000
Theme: This is my Son, listen to him.

A reading from the Prophet Daniel 7 : 9 - 10, 13 - 14
This text probably dates from some two hundred years before the time of Jesus. Israel had endured constant invasions, and domination by great kingdoms from the East. These kingdoms are described as ‘beasts’ but now domination by the last of those invading kings is to be ended. “As I watched,” says the prophet, “ I gazed into the visions of the night. I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like the Son of Man.” In contrast to the ‘beasts’, “On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.” thus is the scene set for the gospel reading on this feast.

A reading from the Second Letter of Peter 1 : 16 - 19
Even the early disciples encountered disbelief, and incredulity. Some people rejected Christian faith on the grounds that it was merely some Greek or Hebrew myth. Peter answers this, with what we might describe as the best forensic and scientific proof he has. “It is not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we have seen his majesty for ourselves.” Peter, the eyewitness can testify with authority, he has seen it for himself, with his very own eyes!

The Gospel according to Mark 9 : 2 - 10
In this account Jesus is transformed before the eyes of his chosen disciples. They have a glimpse of the final coming of God’s kingdom, a glimpse of the glorious state of Jesus which will be his following his death and resurrection.. Many commentators link the significance of this event taking place as it does in a high place as being the traditional setting for supernatural revelation, with the other great events in the past, when God spoke to the People through the prophets. Now something more significant occurs, “there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son. Listen to him’”.
© Peter Harrison 2000