Daily Readings - Mon Jun 24 2019

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 the profound theme of divine calling and purpose. The first reading from Isaiah introduces us to the servant of the Lord, who, despite feeling his efforts are in vain, trusts in God's strength and judgment. This servant is called to restore Israel and be a light to the Gentiles, embodying the Messianic mission that will later be fulfilled in Christ. The reading reminds us that our purpose is not always immediately clear, but faith in God's plan is paramount. The second reading from Acts and the Gospel from Luke beautifully connect this theme through the figure of John the Baptist. Paul's speech in Acts highlights John's humility and his role as a precursor to Jesus, emphasizing that true greatness lies in preparing the way for the Lord. Luke's account of John's birth illustrates the divine hand guiding his life from the start, as his name, contrary to tradition, signifies his unique mission. John's growth in the wilderness symbolizes the preparation and solitude necessary for fulfilling one's divine calling. These readings invite us to reflect on our own calling and purpose. Like John, we are each called to prepare the way for the Lord in our lives and in the world. This requires humility, trust, and sometimes waiting in solitude. As we navigate our own journeys, let us embrace our roles with faith, trusting that God's plan unfolds in His time. May we, like John, be instruments of preparation, opening hearts to receive the Lord's presence and grace.