Daily Readings - Fri Aug 15 2025
Revelation
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.
1 Corinthians
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.
Luke
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, victory, and the unfolding of God’s plan. The first reading from Revelation presents a dramatic vision: a woman, symbolizing the Church or Mary, gives birth to a male child destined to rule the nations. This child is taken up to God, while the woman flees to safety. The passage underscores the cosmic struggle between good and evil, with God’s ultimate triumph over the dragon, symbolizing Satan. The voice in heaven proclaims that salvation, virtue, and the kingdom of God have arrived, emphasizing that the accuser has been cast down. This vision reminds us that, despite trials, God’s victory is assured, and His kingdom endures.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians ties this cosmic victory 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. Christ’s resurrection is the first-fruits of this great transformation, and all creation will ultimately be subject to Him. The reading concludes with the promise that death itself will be destroyed, reinforcing the hope that God’s plan brings life and triumph over all enemies. This passage invites us to trust in the power of Christ’s resurrection and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s kingdom.
In the Gospel, Luke presents the Visitation, where Mary, carrying Jesus, visits Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes the significance of Mary’s presence, calling her “the mother of my Lord.” Mary responds with the Magnificat, a hymn of praise that reflects on God’s mercy, justice, and faithfulness. She rejoices in God’s favor toward the humble and His plan to uplift the lowly and fill the hungry with good things. This passage highlights Mary’s trust in God’s plan and her willingness to cooperate with His will, even in the face of uncertainty.
These readings connect through their emphasis on hope, trust, and the unfolding of God’s plan. Revelation and Corinthians remind us that God’s victory is assured, even in the face of adversity, while the Gospel shows us how to live in trust and humility, like Mary, as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this hope and trust, knowing that God’s plan is at work, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Let us, like Mary, magnify the Lord and rejoice in His mercy, trusting that He will bring all things to their proper fulfillment.