Daily Readings - Sun Sep 12 2021
Isaiah
5The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.6I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.7But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.8He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.9Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
James
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Mark
27And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"28And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."29And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."30And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.31And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.32And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.33But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."34And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and discipleship. In the first reading from Isaiah, the prophet speaks of his unwavering trust in God despite suffering and rejection. He describes how he has offered his body to those who strike him and his face to those who spit on him, yet he remains unashamed because he knows the Lord is his helper. This passage is set in the context of Israel’s exile and restoration, where Isaiah’s fidelity to God’s will serves as a model for the people’s return to faithfulness. His trust in God is not passive but active, enduring hardship without turning back.
In the second reading from James, we are reminded that faith without works is dead. James challenges us to move beyond mere professions of faith and to demonstrate our commitment through concrete actions. He uses the example of someone who wishes another well but fails to provide for their needs, emphasizing that true faith must be lived out in service to others. This teaching is part of James’ broader call to live out the gospel in practical ways, showing that our relationship with God is not just about belief but about how we love and care for one another.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry. After Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, Jesus begins to teach his disciples about the necessity of his suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter’s resistance to this plan reveals a misunderstanding of what it means to follow Jesus. In response, Jesus calls his disciples to embrace self-denial and take up their cross, emphasizing that true discipleship requires surrender and trust in God’s plan. This passage is a call to move beyond our own comfort and desires, trusting that God’s way, though difficult, leads to life.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s trust in the face of suffering, James’ call to active faith, and Jesus’ teaching on self-denial all point to the same truth: living out our faith requires us to surrender our own will and trust in God’s plan, even when it is challenging. In our daily lives, this means being willing to embrace difficulties with faith, putting our faith into action through service, and trusting that God’s way leads to true life. May we, like Isaiah, set our faces like flint, trusting in God’s help, and may we, like Jesus, embrace the cross with courage and faith.