Daily Readings - Sun Jun 24 2018

¹Pay attention, you islands, and listen closely, you far away peoples. The Lord has called me from the womb; from the womb of my mother, he has been mindful of my name²And he has appointed my mouth as a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand, he has protected me. And he has appointed me as an elect arrow. In his quiver, he has hidden me³And he has said to me: "You are my servant, Israel. For in you, I will glory.⁴And I said: "I have labored toward emptiness. I have consumed my strength without purpose and in vain. Therefore, my judgment is with the Lord, and my work is with my God.⁵And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb as his servant, so that I may bring back Jacob to him, for Israel will not be gathered together, but I have been glorified in the eyes of the Lord and my God has become my strength⁶and so he has said: "It is a small thing that you should be my servant so as to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and so as to convert the dregs of Israel. Behold, I have offered you as a light for the Gentiles, so that you may be my salvation, even to the furthest regions of the earth.

Acts

Chapter 13

²²And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.²³From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel²⁴John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel²⁵Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.²⁶Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent

Luke

Chapter 1

⁵⁷Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son⁵⁸And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her⁵⁹And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah⁶⁰And in response, his mother said: "Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.⁶¹And they said to her, "But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.⁶²Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called⁶³And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: "His name is John." And they all wondered⁶⁴Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God⁶⁵And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea⁶⁶And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: "What do you think this boy will be?" And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him⁸⁰And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound messages about divine calling and preparation for God's plan. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a servant chosen by God from the womb, destined to be a light to all nations. This servant, though facing challenges, trusts in God's plan and finds strength in fulfilling His will. The reading from Acts highlights God's faithfulness in raising up leaders like King David and later Jesus, emphasizing John the Baptist's role in preparing the way for the Messiah. The Gospel from Luke narrates the birth of John the Baptist, where his parents' obedience and the miraculous events surrounding his birth signify his special mission. These readings interweave the themes of divine calling and preparation. Isaiah's servant points to the universal salvation brought by Jesus, while John the Baptist's role, as mentioned in Acts and Luke, is to prepare the hearts of the people for this salvation. John's obedience and the wonder he inspires in others illustrate the impact of being an instrument of God's plan. In our lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own calling and how we prepare the way for others to encounter God. Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, we are called to obedience and trust in God's plan, even when it seems unconventional. John's example teaches us the importance of humility and readiness to serve as a bridge for others to experience God's love. As we go about our daily lives, may we embrace our roles as instruments of God's grace, preparing the hearts of those around us to receive His love and light. Let us, like John, be mindful of our mission to clear the path for the Lord, bringing hope and renewal to all we meet.