Daily Readings - Sun Feb 10 2019
Isaiah
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.5And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.7And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
1 Corinthians
3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Luke
1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.3Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."5And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."6And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.7They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter three profound narratives that invite us to reflect on our response to God's call. The first reading from Isaiah describes the prophet's vision in the temple, where he is overwhelmed by God's holiness and humbled by his own unworthiness. Yet, through the cleansing by the seraphim, Isaiah is empowered to accept his mission. This passage reminds us that true humility is the foundation of any divine calling.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians presents the core of the Gospel message: Christ's death, resurrection, and the witnesses who attest to His victory over sin. Paul, once an unlikely apostle, emphasizes that the resurrection is the heart of our faith. His testimony, despite initial resistance, illustrates that God's grace can transform anyone into a vessel for His truth.
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the miraculous catch of fish, which serves as a turning point for Peter, James, and John. Despite their initial doubt and sense of inadequacy, they trust in Jesus' word and are called to a greater purpose. This story highlights that our limitations do not hinder God's ability to work through us.
These readings weave together a common theme: the call to serve God despite our perceived shortcomings. Isaiah, Paul, and the disciples all felt unworthy, yet they trusted in God's plan. In our lives, we are similarly called to recognize God's voice, embrace our mission, and trust in His grace. Let us approach our challenges with humility and faith, knowing that God equips us for the tasks He sets before us. May we, like these biblical figures, respond with courage and faith, allowing God to use us in ways beyond our imagination.