Daily Readings - Sun Dec 17 2017

First Reading - Isaiah 61.1-2a, 10-11

¹The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the meek, so as to heal the contrite of heart, to preach leniency to captives and release to the confined²and so to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vindication of our God: to console all who are mourning¹⁰I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, and my soul will exult in my God. For he has clothed me with the vestments of salvation, and he has wrapped me in the clothing of justice, like a groom arrayed with a crown, and like a bride adorned with her jewels¹¹For as the earth brings forth its seedlings and the garden produces its seeds, so will the Lord God bring forth justice and praise in the sight of all the nations

Second Reading - 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24

1 Thessalonians

Chapter 5

¹⁶Rejoice always¹⁷Pray without ceasing¹⁸Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you¹⁹Do not choose to extinguish the Spirit²⁰Do not spurn prophecies²¹But test all things. Hold on to whatever is good²²Abstain from every kind of evil²³And may the God of peace himself sanctify you through all things, so that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved without blame unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ²⁴He who has called you is faithful. He shall act even now

Gospel - John 1.6-8, 19-28

John

Chapter 1

⁶There was a man sent by God, whose name was John⁷He arrived as a witness to offer testimony about the Light, so that all would believe through him⁸He was not the Light, but he was to offer testimony about the Light¹⁹And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, "Who are you?²⁰And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: "I am not the Christ.²¹And they questioned him: "Then what are you? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No.²²Therefore, they said to him: "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?²³He said, "I am a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.²⁴And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees²⁵And they questioned him and said to him, "Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?²⁶John answered them by saying: "I baptize with water. But in your midst stands one, whom you do not know²⁷The same is he who is to come after me, who has been placed ahead of me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen.²⁸These things happened in Bethania, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, joy, and witness. The first reading from Isaiah describes a figure anointed by the Spirit to bring good news to the oppressed and heal the brokenhearted. This figure is clothed in salvation and justice, symbolizing the joy and celebration of God's redemption. The second reading from Thessalonians encourages believers to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in every circumstance, trusting in God's faithfulness. The Gospel presents John the Baptist, who humbly testifies to the Light, preparing the way for the Messiah and baptizing with water, while acknowledging the greater one who is to come. These readings are set against the backdrop of hope and preparation. Isaiah's prophecy likely occurs during a period of exile or oppression, offering comfort to those awaiting deliverance. Thessalonians addresses early Christians, urging them to maintain a joyful and thankful spirit amidst challenges. John the Baptist's testimony in the Gospel clarifies his role as a precursor to Jesus, emphasizing his humility and focus on the true Messiah. Together, these readings form a narrative arc from the promise of salvation in Isaiah, through the preparatory role of John the Baptist, to the exhortation to live joyfully in the Spirit. In our daily lives, these readings inspire us to embrace joy and hope, trusting in God's faithfulness. Like John the Baptist, we are called to be witnesses, pointing others to Christ. Our lives should reflect the salvation we have received, living with gratitude and prayer. The moral lesson is clear: we are to live with joy, hope, and trust, preparing the way for others to encounter Christ, just as John did. Let us strive to embody this message, allowing God's love and redemption to shine through us.