1st READING
I do not think anyone would want to be tested as Abraham was in this story. No one in his right mind would want such a test. This story teaches us a lot about the nature of the relationship that God desires with us. God wants us to totally surrender to Him so that we would do whatever He asks us to do; at the same time He will never ask us to do something that He is not willing to do Himself. He did send His Son to die on the cross. But He never asks us to do anything that resembles such a sacrifice.
Genesis 22:1-2, 9, 10-13, 15-18
1 God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” he replied. 2 Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.” 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. 10 Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the Lord’s messenger called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. 12 “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” 13 As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. 15 Again the Lord’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven 16 and said: “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, 17 I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, 18 and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing — all this because you obeyed my command.”
P S A L M
Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
R: I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
10 I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. (R) 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. 17 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) 18 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. (R)
2ND READING
Paul gets it. He understands the depth of God’s willingness to sacrifice His Son to demonstrate His love for us. How does he know this? He has experienced it in his life when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. We all have the opportunity to know this as we reflect upon our own and others’ experiences of God’s love. Let us not waste this opportunity and milk it for all that it is worth.
Romans 8:31-34
31 Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. 34 Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
GOSPEL
In Jesus’ transfiguration, we learn that He has His Father’s full support. It is important that we listen to the Father as He calls us to listen to Jesus. What does it mean to listen to God? It is pointless to listen and then ignore what we hear. A true disciple always listens attentively and then puts into practice what he hears even if he does not fully understand the mission or task appointed to him.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
Mark 9:2-10
2 Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.
1st READING 2nd READING
think: God will never ask us to do something He is not willing to do Himself.
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Peter 1-3
N &nbs p; SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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