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Day 4 (August 9)

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here;

let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

Then a cloud overshadowed them… (Mk. 9:5-7).

As for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. (1 Cor 15: 37-38)

This marvel of the transfiguration contains another lesson for the apostles, to strengthen them and lead them into the fullness of knowledge. Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, appeared with the Lord in conversation with him. This was in order to fulfill exactly, through the presence of these five men, the text which says: Before two or three witnesses every word is ratified. What word could be more firmly established, more securely based, than the word which is proclaimed by the trumpets of both old and new testaments, sounding in harmony, and by the utterances of ancient prophecy and the teaching of the Gospel, in full agreement with each other? The writings of the two testaments support each other. The radiance of the transfiguration reveals clearly and unmistakably the one who had been promised by signs foretelling him under the veils of mystery. As Saint John says: The law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In him the promise made through the shadows of prophecy stands revealed, along with the full meaning of the precepts of the law. He is the one who teaches the truth of the prophecy through his presence, and makes obedience to the commandments possible through grace…. When it comes to obeying the commandments or enduring adversity, the words uttered by the Father should always echo in our ears: This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him. (Pope St. Leo the Great)

Just as there was never such an abundance of perfumes seen in the city of Jerusalem as the Queen of Sheba carried with her when she went to visit the great King Solomon, who in exchange made her presents according to his greatness and royal magnificence [1 Kings 10:1-2, 10]; likewise, I say, never were there seen so many merits and so much love carried to Heaven by any pure creature s the most holy Virgin brought there at her glorious Assumption. In reward for this the eternal and great king, the Almighty God, gave her a degree of glory worthy of her greatness, and also power to distribute to her clients graces worthy of her liberality and magnificence. Amen.” (St. Francis de Sales)

Musical Selection

Prayers

Prefiguring Your resurrection, O Christ our God,

You took with You in Your ascent upon Mount Tabor

Your three disciples, Peter, James and John.

When You were transfigured, O Savior,

Mount Tabor was covered with Light!

Your disciples, O Word, threw themselves down upon the ground,

unable to gaze upon the form that none may see.

The angels ministered in fear and trembling;

the heavens shook and the earth quaked

as they beheld on earth the Lord of Glory! (Orthodox Vespers of the Transfiguration)

She who is higher than the heavens

and more glorious than the cherubim,

she who is held in greater honor than all creation,

she who by reason of her surpassing purity

became the receiver of the Everlasting Essence,

today, commends her most pure soul into the hands of her Son.

With her all things are filled with joy and she bestows great mercy on us!

The spotless bride,

the mother of Him in Whom the Father was well pleased,

she who was preordained by God

to be the dwelling place of His union of two natures without confusion

delivers, today, her blameless soul to her Creator and her God.

The spiritual powers receive her with the honors due to God,

and she who is truly the mother of Life departs to Life,

the lamp of the unapproachable Light

the salvation of the faithful and hope of our souls! (Orthodox Vespers of the Dormition)

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