Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the eighteenth week in ordinary time, August 6, 2025, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Delivered by Ariel from the Parish of Saint Albert the Great in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Numbers 7: 9-10.13-14; Rs psalm 97: 1-2.5-6.9; 2 Peter 1: 16-19; Luke 9: 28b-36.EYES AND EARS ON GUARD Our meditation today is entitled: EyesAnd Ears On Guard. There is a young man for the third time dating with the girlhe so loves and he thinks that this time must give a positive result. Theprevious two occassions always ended in sadness because there were many problems.He evaluated himself and knew that his negative attitude had contributed to thefailure of those love relationships. Then he talked about it with his parents.His parents' adviced him in this way: our heart's decision to say and act forsomething is very dependent on our ability to see and hear. Our eyes and ears must always beactive to respond to the reality of other persons we love. When you see thatthe person next to you is busy with various jobs, or when the ears hear thatthe person's voice is rather soft and heavy, the decision of your heart willdetermine the action of your attention to him or her. The young man agrees tothat advice and is determined to make the opportunity of the third time dating tobe a good result. This can develop their love relationship up to the level ofmarriage. On the day of the feast Jesus revealsHis glory, transfiguration, the Word of God teaches us to experience the gloryand greatness of God through our capacity of seeing and listening. All threereadings describe the physical sight and hearing experienced by the prophetDaniel, the apostle Peter and his two colleagues. They saw the appearance ofGod and heard the sound that came directly from God. This is a direct faithexperience and for sure desired by many of us. When you happen to have suchexperience, you are like on the Mount Tabor where you can so marvel at theappearance of God's glory like the three apostoles. Today almost all of our faithexperiences are indirect happenings, but are considered and believed direct.Jesus says and manifests His glory through the action of the Holy Father,bishops or priest, or a brother who does good and loves us. Jesus is personallypresent but symbolized by the Eucharistic Bread which we always worship andeat. Jesus also stands at the pulpit and says directly but is represented by apreacher. Experiences like these are highly valued and continously help thegrowth of our faith. Our eyes and ears are very important intruments for thisgrowth. The problem is that if we do notlisten and see with good attention, we will lose the experience of the glory ofGod present in others, the environment, and the events of our lives. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O most loving Jesus, may we always desire to see and hear You inevery situation of our lives. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of theFather ...