Daily Readings - Sun Jan 15 2023
Isaiah
3And he has said to me: "You are my servant, Israel. For in you, I will glory.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.
1 Corinthians
1Paul, called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God; and Sosthenes, a brother2to the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints with all who are invoking the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of theirs and of ours3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ
John
29On the next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and so he said: "Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold, he who takes away the sin of the world30This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me arrives a man, who has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.31And I did not know him. Yet it is for this reason that I come baptizing with water: so that he may be made manifest in Israel.32And John offered testimony, saying: "For I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove; and he remained upon him33And I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me: ‘He over whom you will see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.34And I saw, and I gave testimony: that this one is the Son of God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Isaiah 49 introduces the servant of the Lord, whose mission extends beyond Israel to all nations, emphasizing a universal call to be a light to the Gentiles. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 is Paul's greeting to the Corinthians, highlighting their sanctification and calling to sainthood, reminding us of our divine vocation. The Gospel, John 1:29-34, presents John the Baptist's testimony, identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
These readings are interconnected, as Isaiah's servant prefigures Jesus, who fulfills the mission of salvation for all. Paul's letter shows the early Christian community living out this mission, called to holiness. John's Gospel reveals Jesus as the one anointed by the Spirit, embodying the servant's role. Together, they illustrate the progression from prophecy to fulfillment, emphasizing our universal call to serve and spread God's message.
In our daily lives, we are called to be light in the world, recognizing Jesus as our savior. We must embrace our role in God's mission, living as saints and spreading His message. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not just for us but for the world. Let us strive to reflect God's light, inspired by Jesus, the Lamb of God, and live out our calling with grace and peace.