Celebrant: God has given us His only Son. In his name, and by his grace, we now pray.

Deacon/Lector:

That all who proclaim the Gospel may effectively bring the world to listen to Jesus, the only Savior and Son of God, we pray to the Lord...

That all priests may enjoy the faithful support, gratitude, and encouragement of the people they serve, we pray to the Lord...

That as we acknowledge our heavenly citizenship, we may work to be active and effective citizens of our homeland here on earth, we pray to the Lord…

That the poor, the homeless and the unborn may experience the protection of the God who guided Abraham, we pray to the Lord...

For the sick, the distressed, and for all those who have asked for our prayers, we pray to the Lord...

For all who have been called to their eternal reward, especially our relatives and parishioners, we pray to the Lord...

Celebrant:

Father,
as you hear and answer our prayers,
give us grace to always listen
to the voice of your Beloved Son,
who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Help Pregnant Women in Need

“As Pope Francis reminds us, we are to offer support for pregnant and parenting moms letting them know that our parishes are, “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference”. Everyone in the parish should know where to refer for help pregnant women in need. The US Catholic Bishops nationwide program, Walking with Moms in Need, helps nurture and protect lives. And women and men suffering due to an abortion need to be reminded that there is hope and healing through ministries such as Project Rachel and Raphael’s Refuge. God’s mercy and forgiveness is limitless, and we all need to be agents of God’s mercy for others.” - Texas “Heartbeat Law” Will Keep the Hearts of Thousands of Tiny Unborn Beating with Life, Bishop Michael Pfeifer, O.M.I., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo – September 8, 2021

Gn 15:5-12, 17-18
Phil 3:17 - 4:1 or 3:20 - 4:1
Lk 9:28b-36

Watch a video with homily suggestions

Abram (First reading) was enveloped by a deep sleep and terrifying darkness. On the mountain of the Transfiguration (Gospel), the theme of the discussion was the deep sleep and terrifying darkness that would envelop the Lord on Calvary. In both cases, God makes a covenant amidst the darkness, which gives way to new light and promise. The name “Abram” means “exalted father;” it will soon be changed to “Abraham,” meaning “father of many.” The stars in the sky don’t measure up to the number of descendants he will have. God tells him when he is 99 years old that he will bear a son and be the father of many nations! And it came to pass. His descendants include us, because he is our father in faith, as St. Paul teaches us. We have the same deep faith he had, and we too have seen that despite the apparent power of death, God makes life victorious. The deep, terrifying darkness that enveloped the Lord on Calvary made the apostles flee. Yet the memory of the Transfiguration must have strengthened them, because although they fled, they did not abandon their faith. On Easter it became clear that the light overcomes the darkness, death overcomes life, and the New Covenant in Christ’s blood will give rise to countless children of God, among whom we are privileged to be numbered.

We renew this covenant of life at every Mass. It is the celebration of the victory of life. We recommit ourselves to the God of life, and to standing up for life in the midst of a culture that has been enveloped in a deep sleep and terrifying darkness – the culture of death, mistaking death for a solution to its problems. Yet today we see the Lord in glory, and are strengthened to listen to the Son of God as the final word among all the contradictory messages in our culture.