Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 15, 2024
First Reading: Revelation 11.19a; 12.1-6a, 10ab
19And the temple of God was opened in heaven. And the Ark of his Testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail
1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars2And being with child, she cried out while giving birth, and she was suffering in order to give birth3And another sign was seen in heaven. And behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems4And his tail drew down a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, who was about to give birth, so that, when she had brought forth, he might devour her son5And she brought forth a male child, who was soon to rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne6And the woman fled into solitude, where a place was being held ready by God, so that they might pasture her in that place for one thousand two hundred and sixty days10And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying: "Now have arrived salvation and virtue and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been cast down, he who accused them before our God day and night
Psalm 45
1Unto the end. For those who will be changed. To the sons of Korah, toward understanding. A Canticle for the Beloved. My heart has uttered a good word. I speak of my works to the king. My tongue is like the pen of a scribe who writes quickly2You are a brilliant form before the sons of men. Grace has been poured freely into your lips. Because of this, God has blessed you in eternity3Fasten your sword to your thigh, O most powerful one4With your splendor and your excellence extended, proceed prosperously, and reign for the sake of truth and meekness and justice, and so will your right hand lead you wondrously5Your arrows are sharp; the people will fall under you, with the hearts of the enemies of the king6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of true aim7You have loved justice and hated iniquity. Because of this, God, your God, has anointed you, before your co-heirs, with the oil of gladness8Myrrh and balsam and cinnamon perfume your garments, from the houses of ivory. From these, they have delighted you9the daughters of kings in your honor. The queen assisted at your right hand, in clothing of gold, encircled with diversity10Listen, daughter, and see, and incline your ear. And forget your people and your father’s house11And the king will desire your beauty. For he is the Lord your God, and they will adore him12And the daughters of Tyre will entreat your countenance with gifts: all the rich men of the people13All the glory of the daughter of its king is inside, in golden fringes14clothed all around with diversities. After her, virgins will be led to the king. Her neighbors will be brought to you15They will be brought with gladness and exultation. They will be led into the temple of the king16For your fathers, sons have been born to you. You will establish them as leaders over all the earth17They will remember your name always, for generation after generation. Because of this, people will confess to you in eternity, even forever and ever
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.20-26
20But now Christ has risen again from the dead, as the first-fruits of those who sleep21For certainly, death came through a man. And so, the resurrection of the dead came through a ma22And just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be brought to life23but each one in his proper order: Christ, as the first-fruits, and next, those who are of Christ, who have believed in his advent24Afterwards is the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will have emptied all principality, and authority, and power25For it is necessary for him to reign, until he has set all his enemies under his feet26Lastly, the enemy called death shall be destroyed. For he has subjected all things under his feet. And although he says
Gospel: Luke 1.39-56
39And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah40And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth41And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit42And she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb43And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me44For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy45And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.46And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord47And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour48For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed49For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name50And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him51He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart52He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble53He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty54He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy55just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.56Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through a narrative of cosmic struggle, divine triumph, and the profound impact of faith. The first reading from Revelation presents a symbolic vision of a woman, often interpreted as Mary or the Church, giving birth to a male child, Jesus, while a dragon, symbolizing Satan, seeks to destroy Him. This apocalyptic imagery reminds us of the eternal conflict between good and evil, yet assures us of God's protective care for His people. The woman's safe haven signifies God's providence and the ultimate victory of His kingdom.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the theological underpinning of Christ's resurrection. Paul emphasizes that just as death came through Adam, so too does life come through Christ. This passage underscores the universality of redemption and the certainty of resurrection, culminating in Christ's reign until all enemies, including death, are vanquished. It invites us to reflect on the transformative power of Christ's victory in our lives.
The Gospel of Luke presents the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, a moment of profound faith and joy. Mary's Magnificat is a hymn of praise, celebrating God's mercy and the reversal of fortunes for the humble and oppressed. This narrative highlights the significance of Mary's faith and the early signs of Jesus's mission, illustrating the impact of trusting in God's plan.
Together, these readings weave a tapestry of God's overarching plan, from the cosmic battle to the intimate moments of faith. They remind us to trust in God's providence, embrace hope in His victories, and live with the faith exemplified by Mary. In our daily lives, let us draw strength from these narratives, knowing that despite life's struggles, God's triumph is assured. The moral lesson is clear: cultivate faith, trust in God's plan, and find joy in His providence.