First Reading: Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18
And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to heaven and number the stars, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall thy seed be.
Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
And he said to him: I am the Lord who brought thee out from Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land, and that thou mightest possess it.
But he said: Lord God, whereby may I know that I shall possess it?
And the Lord answered, and said: Take me a cow of three years old, and a she goat of three years, and a ram of three years, a turtle also, and a pigeon.
And he took all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid the two pieces of each one against the other; but the birds he divided not.
And the fowls came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great and darksome horror seized upon him.
And when the sun was set, there arose a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions.
That day God made a covenant with Abram, saying: To thy seed will I give this land, from the river of Egypt even to the great river Euphrates.
Second Reading: Philippians 3: 17 – 4: 1 or 3: 20 – 4: 1
Be ye followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as you have our model.
For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping), that they are enemies of the cross of Christ;
Whose end is destruction; whose God is their belly; and whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things.
But our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
Therefore, my dearly beloved brethren, and most desired, my joy and my crown; so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Or
But our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
Therefore, my dearly beloved brethren, and most desired, my joy and my crown; so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Gospel: Luke 9: 28b-36
Jesus took Peter, and James, and John, and went up into a mountain to pray.
And whilst he prayed, the shape of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and glittering.
And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias,
Appearing in majesty. And they spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem.
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep. And waking, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
And it came to pass, that as they were departing from him, Peter saith to Jesus: Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he said.
And as he spoke these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them; and they were afraid, when they entered into the cloud.
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son; hear him.
And whilst the voice was uttered, Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no man in those days any of these things which they had seen.