Daily Readings - Tue Jun 24 2025

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 themes of divine vocation and trust in God's plan. The Prophet Isaiah speaks of a servant chosen by God from the womb, destined not only for Israel but as a light to all nations. This servant, despite feeling his efforts are in vain, trusts in God's judgment and purpose. In the Acts of the Apostles, we reflect on King David, a man after God's heart, and John the Baptist, who humbly prepares the way for the Messiah, recognizing his role not as the savior but as a herald of salvation. The Gospel presents John the Baptist's birth, where his naming signifies his mission, and his silence is broken in praise of God, hinting at his future role. These readings intertwine to illustrate the journey of those called by God. Isaiah's servant and John the Baptist exemplify obedience and trust in divine plans. Both are part of a larger narrative—Isaiah's servant points to the Messiah, while John paves the way for Jesus. Their stories remind us that our roles, though sometimes unclear, are part of God's greater plan. In our lives, we are called to embrace our vocations with faith, trusting that our efforts, though they may seem insignificant, contribute to God's larger purpose. Like John, we prepare the way for others to encounter Christ. Let us listen to God's call, trust in His plan, and fulfill our roles with humility and faith, knowing that our efforts are part of a greater divine plan.