Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 15, 2017
Psalm 45
1My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.2Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.3Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.4And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.5Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.7Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.9Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.10Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;11So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.12And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.13The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.15With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.16Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.17I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.20-26
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Gospel: Luke 1.39-56
39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful expressions of faith and transformation. The second reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us of the triumph of Christ’s resurrection, which is not just a historical event but a promise of eternal life for all believers. Paul emphasizes that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection come through Christ. This passage invites us to reflect on the ultimate victory of God over sin and death, and the hope it brings to our lives. The Gospel, taken from Luke, presents the beautiful scene of the Visitation, where Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes the divine presence in Mary and praises her for her faith. Mary, in turn, responds with the Magnificat, a hymn of praise that celebrates God’s mercy, justice, and faithfulness.
The readings are deeply connected in their themes of faith, hope, and the transformative power of God’s grace. In Corinthians, Paul links the resurrection of Christ to the ultimate defeat of all enemies, including death. This hope is not just for the future but is already at work in us, empowering us to live as children of God. In the Gospel, Mary’s faith and trust in God’s plan are exemplified. Her visit to Elizabeth and her joyful praise in the Magnificat show how surrendering to God’s will leads to spiritual transformation and the fulfillment of His promises. Both readings remind us that our faith is not passive but active, calling us to trust in God’s plan and to live with hope and joy, even in the face of challenges.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves how we can apply this faith and hope to our daily lives. Like Mary, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems uncertain or difficult. Like Paul, we are reminded to live with the confidence that Christ’s resurrection has already begun to transform us and the world around us. Let us strive to magnify God in our hearts and actions, recognizing His mercy and justice in our lives. May we, like Mary and Elizabeth, be bearers of joy and hope to those around us, trusting that God’s promises are being fulfilled in us and through us.