DAILY READINGS & SERMONS
*DAILY MASS READINGS*
*Thursday 6 August 2026*
*The Transfiguration of the Lord – Feast*
*Liturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II)*
*Readings at Mass*
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*When a Feast of the Lord is celebrated on a weekday there is only one reading before the Gospel, which may be chosen from either the first or second reading*
*First reading*
*Daniel 7:9-10,13-14*
His robe was white as snow
As I watched:
Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,
its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held
and the books were opened.
I gazed into the visions of the night.
And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.
*Commentary*
*This prophecy of Daniel was written in the dark days of the Syrian persecution of Judaism a couple of centuries before Christ. First the evil empires which persecuted Judaism are described under the imagery of ravening beasts which tear their prey to pieces. Then comes this altogether different image of a noble human being on whom God confers all power and sovereignty on earth. In the original vision this human figure is the personification of the Jews, ‘the holy ones of the Most High’, who will be freed from this persecution and exalted to glory. This mysterious title, ‘son of man’, is the only title which Jesus uses of himself, no doubt with reference to the prophecy of Daniel. In the gospel accounts of the Transfiguration the title does not occur, but the description of Jesus transfigured, with his ‘robe as white as snow’, immediately brings to mind the scene in Daniel*
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*Responsorial Psalm*
*Psalm 96(97):1-2,5-6,9*
The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
his throne, justice and right.
The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.
The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
For you indeed are the Lord
most high above all the earth,
exalted far above all spirits.
The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
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*When a Feast of the Lord falls on a weekday, there is no reading after the Psalm and before the Gospel*
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*Gospel Acclamation*
*Mt17:5*
Alleluia, alleluia!
This is my Son, the Beloved:
he enjoys my favour.
Listen to him.
Alleluia!
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*Gospel*
*Matthew 17:1-9*
His face shone like the sun
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’
*Commentary*
*The Transfiguration was the moment when the disciples were shown the divinity of Jesus on the Holy Mountain. The scene is reminiscent of Moses’ encounter with God on Sinai, when his face, too, shone like the sun. Moses and Elijah are present because they are the two Old Testament figures who experienced the presence of God on the Holy Mountain. With his usual impetuous generosity Peter attempts to ‘freeze’ the moment. The public declaration of Jesus as God’s Son at the Baptism is repeated, but with the addition that Jesus is the authorized divine teacher; Matthew is alert to the implications for the Church of the presence of Christ as Teacher. The cloud is also a symbol of God’s presence, to which the human response can only be to fall to the ground in fear and reverence. The awesome moment of revelation cannot, however, last, and Jesus brings his disciples back to the dire realities before them with the reminder that his death must precede the revelation of his glory at the Resurrection. Until they have experienced the limitless generosity of his death, and the vindication by God of this love, they are not ready to spread the message of Jesus*
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