Daily Readings - Sat Jun 17 2023
Isaiah
9And they will know their offspring among the nations, and their progeny in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them: that these are the offspring whom the Lord has blessed10I 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
Luke
41And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the time of the solemnity of Passover42And when he had become twelve years old, they ascended to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast day43And having completed the days, when they returned, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents did not realize this44But, supposing that he was in the company, they went a day’s journey, seeking him among their relatives and acquaintances45And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him46And it happened that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and questioning them47But all who listened to him were astonished over his prudence and his responses48And upon seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: "Son, why have you acted this way toward us? Behold, your father and I were seeking you in sorrow.49And he said to them: "How is it that you were seeking me? For did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in these things which are of my Father?50And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them51And he descended with them and went to Nazareth. And he was subordinate to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of divine presence and purpose. The first reading from Isaiah 61:9-11 speaks of a people blessed by God, recognized among the nations, and clothed in salvation and justice. This passage, written during the exile, offers hope of restoration through the Messiah, who will bring justice and praise to all nations. The Gospel from Luke 2:41-51 presents a young Jesus, at just twelve years old, in the temple engaging scholars, embodying his dedication to his Father's work. His parents, after a frantic search, find him, highlighting the tension between human concern and divine mission.
These readings connect through themes of seeking and finding God. Isaiah's vision of a blessed people and Luke's narrative of Jesus in the temple illustrate God's active presence in our lives. Just as Jesus's parents sought him diligently, we are called to seek God with similar urgency and faith. The temple scene reminds us that God's ways may not always align with our expectations, yet He is always present, guiding us.
In our daily lives, this calls us to trust in God's plan, even when uncertain. Like Mary, we can reflect on God's words and actions, keeping them in our hearts. The moral lesson here is one of faith and trust—seeking God diligently, as Mary and Joseph did, and remaining open to His presence in unexpected places. Let us embrace this journey of seeking and finding, trusting in God's divine plan.