Daily Readings - Sun Jun 12 2022
Proverbs
22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,26before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,29when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,30then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
Romans
1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,5and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
John
12"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.15All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on wisdom, faith, and the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives. The first reading from Proverbs personifies Wisdom as an eternal and divine attribute, present since the beginning and integral to creation. This Wisdom delights in humanity, emphasizing a deep connection between the divine and human existence. The second reading from Romans, written by St. Paul, discusses the benefits of faith, including access to grace and the ability to find glory in tribulation through patience and hope. Finally, the Gospel from John features Jesus speaking about the Holy Spirit, who will teach the truth and glorify Jesus by revealing His teachings.
These readings are interconnected through themes of divine presence and guidance. Proverbs highlights Wisdom’s role in creation, while Romans connects faith with hope amidst challenges. John’s Gospel introduces the Holy Spirit as the continuation of Jesus’ teaching, linking all three readings in a narrative of divine guidance and truth. Together, they illustrate the enduring presence of God’s wisdom and spirit in our lives.
Applying these readings to daily life, we are reminded to seek wisdom in our decisions and trust in God’s plan, especially during difficult times. The Holy Spirit’s guidance encourages us to remain open to truth and to find hope through faith. The moral lesson here is one of trust and hope: by embracing God’s wisdom and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we navigate life’s challenges with faith, trusting in divine providence and finding joy in our relationship with God.