Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

• Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
• 2 Peter 1:16-19
• Luke 9:28b-36

Lucy, Mary Clare, and Vincent were once again playing their “word” game this Sunday morning.  This was a game that Vincent made up a few years ago where he would attempt to stump his brothers and sisters in a “rhyming wrestling match”!

Vincent would call out a word, and either Lucy or Mary Clare would have to come up with a rhyme.  Then, it was Vincent’s try again, and then back to one of his sisters.  It went on and on until one got stumped and couldn’t come up with a word.  The last person with an acceptable word was the winner.  And it usually was Vincent!

Lucy, Mary Clare, and Vincent were flying words all around the room when Dad came in with his Bible.

“Deed!” yelled Vincent.

“Seed!” yelled Mary Clare.

“Weed!” Vincent countered.

“Heed!” Lucy said, jumping right in.

Suddenly, Dad joined in with a big grin from ear to ear.  “READ!” he stated.  “It is AGREED that we NEED to PROCEED and READ today’s Scripture since it’s GUARANTEED to FEED us our GREED so we can SUCCEED!”

The kids looked at their dad in stunned silence.

“Okay, Dad, you win!” Vincent acknowledged.  “I didn’t even know that you knew how to play this game!”

Dad could only smile.  “I ’m INDEED up to SPEED!” he said.

All the other Pauline’s were in the living room already.  Dad and Vincent joined the other Pauline’s to hear the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9.  It told of the Transfiguration of the Lord where Jesus grew as bright as the sun in front of His disciples Peter, James, and John.

“Was Jesus as bright as the living room?” little Hillary asked her dad, slightly shielding her eyes from the glare of the window.

“Brighter than that!” Dad told her.

“How about the biggest lamp?” Lucy asked. “Was he more sparkly and brighter than a lamp?”

“Way, way, way more bright than that!” Dad smiled.  “The Gospel says that Jesus became brighter than anything on earth!”

“Ohhhhhh!” was all Hillary and Lucy could say.

“Now, what is this called again, Daddy?” little Hillary asked.  “What’s the name of this feast day again?”

“It is the feast of the Transfiguration!” her Dad answered. 

“That’s right!” Mom added.  “The word ‘transfigured’ means ‘to change your form or your appearance.’  That’s exactly what happened to Jesus when His appearance changed to a dazzling and sparkling brightness!”

“Ohhhhhh!” was all Hillary and Lucy could say again.

“I really like that word, ‘transfiguration!’ ”  Vincent volunteered.  “I can’t imagine ever playing my rhyming game with that word, though!”

“Oh, do you think it’s too hard?” Dad said slyly.  “I bet that there are words that rhyme with ‘transfiguration’ that can teach a lot about today’s reading!”

“You’re on!” Vincent challenged.

Now Dad was penned in.  He had to think about the reading, the rhymes, and he had to think fast!

“What’s your first word to rhyme with ‘transfiguration,’ Dad?” Vincent pressured him with a giggle in his voice.

“My first word is ‘confirmation’!” Dad told the family.  “It was a ‘confirmation’ to Peter, James, and John that Jesus was the true fulfillment of God’s promise.”

“Good job, Dad, do you have another one?” Vincent playfully asked again.

“Sure do, Son!” Dad chuckled.  “ ‘Realization!’ Peter, James, and John saw Moses and Elijah there with Jesus and realized that Jesus was the bridge between the Old Testament law and the New Testament!”

“Wow, Dad!  Any others?” Vincent asked, amazed.

Dad was feeling pretty good about his rhyming words so far and decided that it was time to go for the “home run” winning word play!

“So, on this ‘Transfiguration elevation’ on top of the mountain, which was not a ‘Transfiguration hallucination,’ Jesus had this ‘Transfiguration conversation’ to help the disciples have a ‘Transfiguration appreciation’ as a ‘Transfiguration verification!’ of Jesus as the Exalted One.  It was a ‘Transfiguration celebration!’

The entire family was stunned and silent.  Finally, Vincent shook his head and said, “I don’t think I can ever play the rhyming wrestling match game again!  That was … remarkable!”

And Dad could only laugh.  “I thank you for your ‘Transfiguration appreciation’!   Now, let’s head off to Mass for more ‘Transfiguration formation!’ “

“You never give up, do you?” Vincent chuckled as he gave his dad a hug, and the entire family headed off.

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