Daily Readings - Sun Jan 19 2025
Isaiah
1For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.2The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.4You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.5For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
1 Corinthians
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
John
1On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.2Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.3When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."4And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."6Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.8And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.9When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom10and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."11This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.12After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of hope, unity, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful vision of restoration and renewal. Zion, once forsaken, is now called by a new name, and her land, once desolate, is inhabited and fruitful. This passage speaks of God’s delight in His people and His commitment to bring light and joy where there was once darkness and abandonment. It is a message of hope, reminding us that even in times of trial, God’s plan for us is one of love and transformation.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians emphasizes the diversity of spiritual gifts within the Church. Paul reminds us that while the gifts may differ, they all come from the same Spirit and are meant to serve the common good. This passage calls us to unity and collaboration, recognizing that each person has a unique role to play in the Body of Christ. Just as the Spirit distributes gifts according to His will, we are invited to use our talents and abilities to build up the community and glorify God.
In the Gospel, we witness the first public sign of Jesus’ ministry at the wedding in Cana. When the wine runs out, Mary’s intercession leads Jesus to perform a miraculous act, turning water into wine. This story highlights the importance of faith and obedience. Mary’s trust in her Son and the servants’ willingness to do as Jesus instructed made the miracle possible. It also reveals the abundance of God’s grace, as the best wine is saved for last. Like the wedding guests, we are called to recognize and celebrate the presence of God in our lives, even in the most ordinary moments.
These readings remind us that God’s presence is transformative and that His plan for us is always one of love and renewal. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to recognize the ways in which God is at work, to use our gifts for the good of others, and to trust in His providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. May we, like Mary, have the courage to bring our needs to Jesus and, like the servants, be willing to do His will. In doing so, we will experience the joy and abundance that only God can provide.