August 6. SEE.  Transfiguration. Fr Joseph, the parish priest had prepared his Sunday homily with the topic for the month, of Sexuality as a Family Gift and with the upcoming Women’s Day in mind.  “Some gender topics are challenging from a negative point of view; we should  be well aware of oppression, exploitation and abuse and violence, but there is also a positive challenge, for good gender relationships.   These don’t happen naturally and need a lot of hard work.“  Tracy, one member of the family team added, “today’s feastday for us, Catholics has been one of my favourites for a long time. On this feast of the Transfiguration the three apostles chosen by Jesus to witness his transfigured self were overcome with wonder and exclaimed. ‘Lord it is good for us to be here.’  That is my hope and dream for all our gender relationships. I wonder if all of God’s creatures experience this joy too. ”

JUDGE. Reflect, share, act. Scripture:    Jesus was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun and his garments became white as light. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.  And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord it is well that we are here.”  Matt 17:1b-9.  Pope Francis:  The joy of Love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church.   For all the signs of crisis in the institution of marriage, the desire to marry and form a family remains vibrant, especially among young people and this is an inspiration to the Church. AL1.   Pope Leo:   The dignity inscribed in each of us by the Holy Spirit can also be seen in our capacity to reflect critically, choose and love freely, and form authentic relationships. No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil. Even when machines excel in efficiency, a human face that asks to be gazed upon remains the center of our history. This human face is the fullness toward which history is moving,. the certainty that the Father has decreed to bring all things, those in heaven and those on earth, back to Christ, the one Head. MH 233.            

ACT AND PRAY.  Reflect on the Joy of Love in your own life.  Pray St Francis Peace Prayer and pray: Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, Patroness of South Africa, pray for us.