August 6, 2026 The Transfiguration of the Lord Gospel: Mt 17:1-9
Today is Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates today the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The recently published Roman Missal introduces this feast as follows: The Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor was intended to strengthen the faith of the disciples, because the hour of trial was at hand: the Son of Man would be delivered unto death, and what human eyes could see was only weakness, humiliation, and suffering. Yet beyond the shame of the Cross lies the light and glory of the Resurrection, which the Transfiguration reveals. It shows to the disciples, and to us, the divinity of Christ—He is Light from Light—and prefigures the glory of heaven.
Today, the passage from the Gospel of Saint Matthew presents to us the feast of Jesus’ Transfiguration on the mountain. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
First, Matthew tells us that Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. He was transfigured before them; His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light. (cf. Mt 17:1-2)
Today, Jesus did not take all His disciples up the mountain, but only a part of them—certain of the disciples whom He had first called: Peter, James, and John. We know that Peter was a fisherman; when Jesus called them, they were casting nets into the sea (cf. Mt 3:18). James and his brother John, together with Peter, were the three disciples most beloved by Jesus. In several scenes of Jesus’ public life, only they were with Him. For example: the raising of the daughter of Jairus (cf. Mt 9:18-26); the Transfiguration of Jesus (cf. Mt 17:1-8); and the agony of Jesus in prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane (cf. Mt 26:36-46)—they kept watch at the side of Jesus Christ. They were therefore the three most intimate disciples of Jesus, who were with Him almost at every moment.
Today, Jesus took Peter, John, and James up the mountain, not to admire its beautiful scenery, but to pray. We know that the mountain is a place of God’s presence. For God called Moses up the mountain to speak with him (cf. Ex 19:20-25), and it was upon the mountain that He gave Moses the tablets of the covenant (cf. Ex 24:12-17). Thus the mountain became a sign of God’s presence. Jesus even led them away, for a time, from this world which is passing away, into the world of God.
Next, Matthew tells us that on the mountain, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with Jesus. (cf. Mt 17:3-4) Luke tells us that they appeared in glory, speaking of the departure of Jesus, which He was to fulfill in Jerusalem (cf. Lk 9:31). Peter, enraptured by such a vision, said: “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You wish, I will make three tents here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (ibid.; cf. Mt 17:3-4) This reflects our own reality, for we too often delight in those beautiful moments when God is with us, and we long to dwell with Jesus. What Peter sought to do was to erect three tents; he did not put up a tent for himself, nor for James, nor for John, but for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Clearly, he desired to be with Jesus and the ancient patriarchs; he yearned to remain in the world of God.
Today, the Church invites us, by looking upon Jesus on the holy mountain with eyes of faith as He manifests His radiant countenance to the three disciples whom He loved, to become ourselves, in every time and place, conformed to Jesus Christ, so as to manifest the loving face of God to all creation, just as Jesus Himself did. Yet, because of original sin, we frequently fall into weakness. Let us therefore, together with Peter, James, and his brother John, and united with all our brothers and sisters who celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus today, raise our prayer to God:
O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to your servants, that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may merit to become co-heirs with him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
今天是常年期第十八周星期三。教會在今天羅馬聖母大殿奉獻日的自由紀念敬禮日。最近出版的羅馬彌撒經書是這樣介紹這個自由紀念敬禮日的: 西元431年，厄弗所大公會議宣佈童貞榮福瑪利亞為天主之母（Theotokos）；不久之後，教宗西斯篤三世將重建後的羅馬聖母大殿奉獻，以示對她的敬禮。根據傳統，該大殿的所在地最初是由一場發生於羅馬盛夏八月五日的奇跡性降雪所指示的，因而獲得了“雪地聖母”（Our Lady of the Snows）的名號。這座大殿被認為是獻給童貞榮福瑪利亞最重要的教堂，其奉獻日更新了我們與羅馬的聯繫。
今天是常年期第十八周星期三。教会在今天庆祝罗马圣母大殿奉献日的自由纪念敬礼日。最近出版的罗马弥撒经书是这样介绍这个自由纪念敬礼日的: 公元431年，厄弗所大公会议宣布童贞荣福玛利亚为天主之母（Theotokos）；不久之后，教宗西斯笃三世将重建后的罗马圣母大殿奉献，以示对她的敬礼。根据传统，该大殿的所在地最初是由一场发生于罗马盛夏八月五日的奇迹性降雪所指示的，因而获得了“雪地圣母”（Our Lady of the Snows）的名号。这座大殿被认为是献给童贞荣福玛利亚最重要的教堂，其奉献日更新了我们与罗马的联系。
August 5, 2026 Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome Gospel: Matthew 15:21–28
Today is Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church observes today as the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. The recently published Roman Missal introduces this Optional Memorial as follows: In 431, the Council of Ephesus declared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the Mother of God (Theotokos). Shortly afterwards, Pope Sixtus III dedicated the rebuilt Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome in her honour. According to tradition, the site of the basilica was originally indicated by a miraculous snowfall on 5 August, in the midst of the Roman summer, thus earning it the title “Our Lady of the Snows.” This basilica is regarded as the foremost church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and its dedication day renews our bond with Rome.
Today’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew presents to us a dialogue between Jesus and the Canaanite woman as He passes through the region of Tyre and Sidon. Let us offer some reflections.
First, Matthew tells us that Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon (cf. Mt 15:21). Biblical scholar Graham H. Twelvetrees holds that Jesus did not actually enter Tyre and Sidon but went to the area across the sea. This accords well with the location of the events described today, for we know that Tyre was a Mediterranean city situated twenty-three miles north of Acre in Israel.
Next, Matthew tells us that a Canaanite woman came to Jesus, crying out on behalf of her daughter, begging Him to free her child from the torment of a demon (cf. Mt 15:22). This mirrors situations we encounter in our own lives. For we often turn to others for help amid the various needs of daily life. When we seek assistance from them, we commonly meet with two kinds of responses: when we encounter those who are generous and open-hearted, we receive, through their selfless giving, part or all of the aid we long for; but when we meet those who are indifferent in all things, they are like the disciples in today’s Gospel (cf. Mt 15:22–24)—no matter how earnestly we plead, they are unwilling to help, for in their eyes, so long as they themselves have enough to eat and wear, that suffices.
Finally, Matthew recounts the dialogue between Jesus and this Canaanite woman (cf. Mt 15:23–28). In this woman we can see a prefigurement of Holy Mother Church. When her children are held fast by the devil and the powers of the netherworld, she, like a tender mother, intercedes with Jesus for those sons and daughters ensnared in sin, so that the Lord Christ, who is rich in mercy, might—through the supplications offered by the Church—gather once more those “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (cf. Mt 15:24) and unite them together in the communion of the Most Holy Trinity. We who once lived in sin and death were by right undeserving of God’s mercy; yet God, who is rich in mercy, “made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (cf. 2 Cor 5:21). Thus, for all who in faith trust in Christ, who follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rely upon the Holy Spirit, and mortify the deeds of the flesh, they become children of God. Their faith, like that of this Canaanite woman, will remain steadfastly confident in God. They shall surely possess a humility like hers (cf. Mt 15:25–27), receive every grace bestowed by God, and be delivered from sin and death (cf. Mt 15:28). And so, when they come to the end of this earthly life, they shall attain eternal life.
We who once lived in sin and death were by right undeserving of God’s mercy; yet God, who is rich in mercy, “made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (cf. 2 Cor 5:21). Thus, for all who in faith trust in Christ, who follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rely upon the Holy Spirit, and mortify the deeds of the flesh, they become children of God. Their faith, like that of this Canaanite woman, will remain steadfastly confident in God. They shall surely possess a humility like hers (cf. Mt 15:25–27), receive every grace bestowed by God, and be delivered from sin and death (cf. Mt 15:28). And so, when they come to the end of this earthly life, they shall attain eternal life.
On this feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, let us join with the shepherds of the Church in Rome and raise our prayers to God:
Draw near to your servants, O Lord, and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness, that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide, you may restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God, for ever and ever
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