Daily Readings - Mon Apr 01 2019
Isaiah
17"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.18But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.20No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.21They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
John
43After the two days he departed for Galilee.44(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)45So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.46So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.47When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.48So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."49The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."50Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.51As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.52So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."53The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household.54This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound visions of hope and faith. The passage from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a new heavens and a new earth, where sorrow and pain are no more. This vision is not just a distant dream but a promise of restoration and joy, reminding us that God's plan is one of ultimate peace and happiness. In contrast, the Gospel of John presents a tangible miracle: Jesus healing the official's son. This act, the second sign in Galilee, underscores Jesus' authority and the power of faith. The official's trust in Jesus' word, without needing to see the miracle firsthand, exemplifies the kind of faith we are called to embrace.
These readings, though separated by time and context, are deeply connected. Isaiah's vision of a renewed world requires trust in God's promise, much like the official's trust in Jesus' assurance. Both narratives highlight the transformative power of belief. In Isaiah, the hope of a new creation invites us to trust in God's future promises. In John, the official's faith leads to immediate healing, illustrating that faith can lead to tangible, life-changing results. Together, they remind us that faith is not passive but active, leading us to trust God even when the outcome is uncertain.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace faith with confidence. Like the official, we may face situations where we must trust God's word without seeing immediate results. Yet, this trust is precisely what leads to transformation. As we navigate life's challenges, we are called to hold onto hope, knowing that God's promises are reliable. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is the foundation of our relationship with God, enabling us to live with hope and trust, even in uncertain times. Let us, therefore, cultivate this faith, trusting in God's plan and His promise of eternal life.