Daily Readings - Sat Jun 17 2023
Isaiah
9Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
Luke
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."49And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of divine presence and purpose. The first reading from Isaiah 61:9-11 speaks of a people blessed by God, recognized among the nations, and clothed in salvation and justice. This passage, written during the exile, offers hope of restoration through the Messiah, who will bring justice and praise to all nations. The Gospel from Luke 2:41-51 presents a young Jesus, at just twelve years old, in the temple engaging scholars, embodying his dedication to his Father's work. His parents, after a frantic search, find him, highlighting the tension between human concern and divine mission.
These readings connect through themes of seeking and finding God. Isaiah's vision of a blessed people and Luke's narrative of Jesus in the temple illustrate God's active presence in our lives. Just as Jesus's parents sought him diligently, we are called to seek God with similar urgency and faith. The temple scene reminds us that God's ways may not always align with our expectations, yet He is always present, guiding us.
In our daily lives, this calls us to trust in God's plan, even when uncertain. Like Mary, we can reflect on God's words and actions, keeping them in our hearts. The moral lesson here is one of faith and trust—seeking God diligently, as Mary and Joseph did, and remaining open to His presence in unexpected places. Let us embrace this journey of seeking and finding, trusting in God's divine plan.