Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 15, 2021
First Reading: Isaiah 65.17-21
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.
Psalm 30
1I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.2O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.3O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.4Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.5For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.6As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."7By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.8To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:9"What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?10Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!"11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,12that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Gospel: John 4.43-54
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
The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future where God creates new heavens and a new earth, a place where sorrow and pain are no more. This vision of eternal joy and peace is a promise of hope for God’s people, reminding us that our current struggles are not the end of the story. The Gospel continues this theme of hope as Jesus, through his divine power, heals the son of a royal official. Despite initial doubts, the official’s faith in Jesus leads to a miraculous restoration of life, showcasing the transformative power of trust in God.
Both readings highlight the importance of faith and hope in our relationship with God. Isaiah’s prophecy encourages us to look beyond our present sufferings and trust in God’s promise of eternal joy. Similarly, the Gospel story reminds us that even when we face uncertainty or doubt, placing our trust in Jesus can lead to unexpected blessings. The official’s plea for his son’s healing demonstrates how faith, even in its simplest form, can move God to act in profound ways.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. When we face challenges or uncertainties, we are called to hold onto hope, just as Isaiah envisioned, and to trust in God’s plan, just as the royal official did. Jesus’ miracles and teachings remind us that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it immediately. Let us strive to deepen our faith, trusting that God’s promises are true and that He will bring us to a place of eternal joy and peace.