Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
when your Son was transfigured
you gave eyes of faith to the apostles
to see beyond appearances
and to recognize Jesus as your beloved Son.
This vision gave them courage for the hour of trial.
When our faith and trust
seem to desert us in dark moments,
let your Son take us up to the mountain
and give us a glimpse of his light,
that with fresh courage and generosity
we may see where he wants us to go.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

Alarmed by the evil done to the Christian community by false teachers, James warns against the dangers of falsehood. This warning is valid today when words are so much manipulated to deceive and disguise.

First Reading: Jas 3:1–10

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and
sisters, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for
we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short
in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body
also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them
obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. It is the same with
ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds,
they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s
inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small
member and yet has great pretensions.
Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The
tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world
of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course
of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every
kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed
and has been tamed by the human species, but no man can
tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men
who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth
come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this need
not be so.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 12:2 –3, 4 – 5, 7– 8

R/. You will protect us, Lord.

Help, O LORD! for no one now is dutiful;
faithfulness has vanished from among the children of men.
Everyone speaks falsehood to his neighbor;
with smooth lips they speak, and double heart.
R/. You will protect us, Lord.

May the LORD destroy all smooth lips,
every boastful tongue,
Those who say, “We are heroes with our tongues;
our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
R/. You will protect us, Lord.

The promises of the LORD are sure,
like tried silver, freed from dross, sevenfold refined.
You, O LORD, will keep us
and preserve us always from this generation.
R/. You will protect us, Lord.

Gospel Introduction

After he has announced his coming suffering and answered Peter's protest, Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of those intimate friends among the apostles who will also watch his agony in the garden. This is how he strengthens their faith. Then he speaks again with them about his approaching passion. Let us ask the Lord in this eucharist to give us courage in difficult moments.

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:2-13

          Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain. There his appearance was changed before their eyes. Even his clothes shone, becoming as white as no bleach of this world could make them. Elijah and Moses appeared to them; the two were talking with Jesus.

         Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say; they were overcome with awe. But a cloud formed, covering them in a shadow, and from the cloud came this word, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him." And suddenly, as they looked around, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus with them.

         Finally they asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus answered them, "Of course, Elijah will come first so that everything may be as it should be... But, why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? I tell you that Elijah has already come and they have treated him as they pleased, as the Scriptures say of him."