Daily Readings - Sun Feb 09 2025
Isaiah
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.5And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.7And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
1 Corinthians
3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Luke
1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.3Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."5And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."6And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.7They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and calling. Isaiah, in the first reading, experiences a vision of God's glory in the temple, leading to a deep sense of unworthiness, yet he is cleansed and commissioned as a prophet. This vision occurs during a time of crisis for the kingdom, highlighting the need for prophetic voices. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, underscores the resurrection of Christ as the cornerstone of Christian faith, emphasizing its historical and theological significance. The Gospel presents Peter, a humble fisherman, who after a miraculous catch, recognizes his sinfulness and is called by Jesus to follow Him, becoming a disciple.
These readings intertwine beautifully, each illustrating a response to God's call amidst feelings of inadequacy. Isaiah and Peter both express humility, yet they are empowered by God's grace to fulfill their missions. Paul's focus on the resurrection connects to the Gospel, as it reveals the ultimate purpose of Jesus' ministry—the triumph over sin and death, which enables our own calling.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and recognize our unworthiness before God. Like Peter, we may feel inadequate, but it is through His grace that we are made worthy. The call to follow Jesus is universal, urging us to trust in His providence and step into the unknown with faith. As we navigate our own journeys, let us remember that our worth comes from God, not ourselves, and be open to serving Him in our unique ways.
The moral lesson here is clear: humility, grace, and mission. We are all part of God's plan, called to serve with the gifts we have. Let us respond with willingness, trusting in God's guidance, and remembering that our role in His plan is both vital and transformative.