Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 15, 2023
First Reading: Revelation 11.19a; 12.1-6a, 10ab
19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.2She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.5She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,6and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Psalm 45
1My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.2You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.3Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!4In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!5Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;7you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;8your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;9daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.10Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father's house,11and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.12The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people.13All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.14In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.15With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.16In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.17I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.20-26
20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Gospel: Luke 1.39-56
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;52he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."56And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Sermon
The readings today present us with powerful imagery and profound truths about God’s plan of salvation. In the first reading from Revelation, we encounter a dramatic vision: a woman clothed with the sun, a dragon seeking to devour her child, and the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom. This apocalyptic scene symbolizes the cosmic struggle between good and evil, with the woman representing both Mary and the Church. The dragon, or Satan, seeks to destroy God’s plan, but the child, Jesus, is taken up to God’s throne, signaling the ultimate victory of God over evil.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians ties this cosmic struggle to the resurrection of Christ. Paul explains that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection of the dead come through Christ. Jesus’ resurrection is the first-fruits of a greater harvest, and through him, all things will be brought under God’s authority. This reading reminds us that our faith is rooted in the hope of eternal life and the final triumph of God over all enemies, including death itself.
In the Gospel, we see the humanity of this divine plan unfolding. Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, visits Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist. Their encounter is filled with joy and recognition of the miraculous work of God. Mary’s Magnificat, a hymn of praise, reflects her deep trust in God’s plan and her humility in accepting her role as the Mother of God. This passage invites us to reflect on our own trust in God’s providence and our willingness to cooperate with his plan, even when it seems challenging or mysterious.
These readings remind us that our lives are part of a much larger story—one of struggle and triumph, death and resurrection. Like Mary, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. May we, like Elizabeth, recognize the presence of God in our midst and, like Mary, magnify the Lord with joy and gratitude. Let us remember that God’s mercy endures forever, and his plan for us is always one of love and salvation.