Daily Readings - Sun Dec 17 2023
Isaiah
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;2to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;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.
1 Thessalonians
16Rejoice always,17pray without ceasing,18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19Do not quench the Spirit.20Do not despise prophecies,21but test everything; hold fast what is good.22Abstain from every form of evil.23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
John
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."21And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not.Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."22So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"23He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)25They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"26John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,27even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound messages that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Isaiah presents a prophet anointed by the Spirit to bring good news to the afflicted and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. This passage, rooted in the context of Israel’s hope for redemption, highlights the Messiah’s mission to heal and restore. The second reading from Thessalonians encourages believers to embrace joy, constant prayer, and gratitude, while being open to the Spirit’s guidance. This epistle, written by Paul, emphasizes living faithfully and avoiding evil, trusting in God’s faithfulness. The Gospel features John the Baptist, who humbly testifies to Jesus as the Light, preparing the way for the Lord without seeking glory for himself.
These readings are intricately connected, each pointing to Jesus as the source of our joy and mission. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who embodies the Spirit’s anointing to bring salvation. John the Baptist’s role is to prepare the way for Jesus, illustrating humility and purpose. Thessalonians teaches us to live in the Spirit, which aligns with the mission and joy found in the other readings. Together, they remind us that our lives should reflect the Light of Christ, lived with humility and openness to the Spirit.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to live with joy and gratitude, embracing the Spirit’s guidance. Our mission is to point others to Christ, not seeking to be the center of attention but to serve and prepare the way for others to encounter Jesus. This requires humility and a willingness to let our lives be a testament to His presence. The moral lesson is clear: we are to live with joy, humility, and openness to the Spirit, using our lives to serve and direct others to Christ. Let us strive to embody these virtues, allowing His Light to shine through us.