Daily Readings - Tue Jun 24 2025
Isaiah
1Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.2He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."4But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God."5And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him--for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength--6he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Acts
22And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'23Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.24Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.25And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'26"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
Luke
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,60but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John."61And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name."62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.63And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound themes of divine vocation and trust in God's plan. The Prophet Isaiah speaks of a servant chosen by God from the womb, destined not only for Israel but as a light to all nations. This servant, despite feeling his efforts are in vain, trusts in God's judgment and purpose. In the Acts of the Apostles, we reflect on King David, a man after God's heart, and John the Baptist, who humbly prepares the way for the Messiah, recognizing his role not as the savior but as a herald of salvation. The Gospel presents John the Baptist's birth, where his naming signifies his mission, and his silence is broken in praise of God, hinting at his future role.
These readings intertwine to illustrate the journey of those called by God. Isaiah's servant and John the Baptist exemplify obedience and trust in divine plans. Both are part of a larger narrative—Isaiah's servant points to the Messiah, while John paves the way for Jesus. Their stories remind us that our roles, though sometimes unclear, are part of God's greater plan.
In our lives, we are called to embrace our vocations with faith, trusting that our efforts, though they may seem insignificant, contribute to God's larger purpose. Like John, we prepare the way for others to encounter Christ. Let us listen to God's call, trust in His plan, and fulfill our roles with humility and faith, knowing that our efforts are part of a greater divine plan.