My heart has said to you: I have sought your face; your face, O Lord, I seek. Do not turn your face away from me!

 

My heart has said to you: I have sought your face; your face, O Lord, I seek. Do not turn your face away from me! (Ps 26:8ff)

In this liturgy, we are invited to listen to what Jesus has to say to us with his Word and to contemplate with joy his luminous face, which anticipates Easter. Willing to purify the gaze of our faith, in the midst of the tribulations of the present, as a prayerful assembly, let us seek the face of the transfigured Lord.

First Reading: Genesis 15:5-12.17-18

The readings encourage us to welcome the promises of God, who, through the cross of Christ, made an eternal covenant with us. Let us welcome his Word, which transforms our lives.

A reading from the Book of Genesis – In those days, 5the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look toward the sky and count the stars, if you are able!” And he added, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered it righteousness. 7 He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” 8 Abram asked, “O Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?” 9 The Lord said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought them all and divided the animals in half, but not the birds, placing their respective parts opposite each other. 11 Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great and mysterious terror seized him. 17 When the sun went down and it was dark, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. 18On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I will give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” – The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 26(27)

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; / of whom shall I fear? / The Lord is the shield of my life; / of whom shall I be afraid? – R.

2. Hear the voice of my cry, O Lord; / in your mercy answer me! / My heart speaks to you with confidence; / your face I seek. – R.

3. Do not cast away your servant in your anger, / you are my help; / do not forget me or forsake me, / my God and my Savior! – R.

4. I shall see the goodness of the Lord / in the land of the living. / Wait for the Lord and be of good courage, / wait for the Lord! – R.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1 or 20-4:1

[The short form is in brackets.]

A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians – 17Fellow imitators of me, [brothers,] and mark those who walk according to the example we give you. 18I have often told you, and now I say it again even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their stomach, their glory is in their shame, and they set their minds on earthly things. [20But we are citizens of heaven, and from there we eagerly await our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform our lowly body and make it like his glorious body, by the power that is even able to subject all things to himself. 4:1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy, my crown, my friends, stand firm in the Lord.] – Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

The voice of the Father was heard in a bright cloud: / This is my beloved Son; listen to him, all of you! (Luke 9:35) – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke – At that time, 28Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up on the mountain to pray. 29While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Behold, two men were talking to Jesus, Moses and Elijah. 31They appeared in glory and were talking about his death, which he was going to suffer in Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. 33As the men were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter did not know what he was saying. 34While he was still speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow. The disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35But a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to what he says.” 36While the voice was still there, Jesus was alone. The disciples remained silent and did not tell anyone in those days about what they had seen. – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Jesus and three disciples go up the mountain to pray and there the transfiguration of Jesus takes place. While he is talking to Moses and Elijah, representatives of the Old Testament, the three disciples fall asleep and do not hear the voice that speaks of the exodus (death) of the Master. The transfiguration shows that passion and death are