Daily Readings - Sun Jan 15 2023
Isaiah
3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."5And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him--for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength--6he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
1 Corinthians
1Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
John
29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!30This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'31I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."32And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.33I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'34And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Isaiah 49 introduces the servant of the Lord, whose mission extends beyond Israel to all nations, emphasizing a universal call to be a light to the Gentiles. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 is Paul's greeting to the Corinthians, highlighting their sanctification and calling to sainthood, reminding us of our divine vocation. The Gospel, John 1:29-34, presents John the Baptist's testimony, identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
These readings are interconnected, as Isaiah's servant prefigures Jesus, who fulfills the mission of salvation for all. Paul's letter shows the early Christian community living out this mission, called to holiness. John's Gospel reveals Jesus as the one anointed by the Spirit, embodying the servant's role. Together, they illustrate the progression from prophecy to fulfillment, emphasizing our universal call to serve and spread God's message.
In our daily lives, we are called to be light in the world, recognizing Jesus as our savior. We must embrace our role in God's mission, living as saints and spreading His message. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not just for us but for the world. Let us strive to reflect God's light, inspired by Jesus, the Lamb of God, and live out our calling with grace and peace.