Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 13, 2019
First Reading: Isaiah 40.1-5, 9-11
1Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Psalm 104
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.10He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.11They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.12By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.13He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.16The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;17Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.18The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.19He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.20Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.23Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.24O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.25So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.26There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.28That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.31The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.32He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.33I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.34My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.35Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Second Reading: Titus 2.11-14; 3.4-7
11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Gospel: Luke 3.15-16, 21-22
15And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:21Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of hope, preparation, and the transformative power of God’s grace. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a message of consolation and hope. The prophet speaks to a people in exile, offering them comfort and promising that their suffering will end. He calls them to prepare the way for the Lord, emphasizing that every valley will be exalted and every mountain will be made low. This is a call to humility and openness, reminding us that God’s glory will be revealed to all. Isaiah’s words are not just for his time but resonate with us today, urging us to clear the path in our hearts for the Lord’s presence.
The second reading from Titus builds on this theme of preparation but shifts the focus to the transformative power of God’s grace. St. Paul reminds us that God’s grace has appeared to all people, instructing us to reject sin and live lives marked by sobriety, justice, and piety. This is not about earning God’s favor through our works but about responding to the gift of salvation we have already received. Titus emphasizes that we are saved by God’s mercy, not by our own efforts, and that this mercy renews us through the Holy Spirit. This reading challenges us to live in a way that reflects the hope we have in Christ, trusting in his promise of eternal life.
In the Gospel, Luke presents us with the figure of John the Baptist, who humbly acknowledges that he is not the Messiah but merely a precursor. John’s baptism with water is a symbol of repentance, but he points to one greater than himself who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The scene of Jesus’ baptism is a profound moment of revelation. As Jesus prays, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice affirms Jesus as his beloved Son. This moment is not just about Jesus; it is about us. Through our own baptism, we are called to share in Christ’s mission and to live as beloved children of God, guided by the Holy Spirit.
These readings remind us that our lives are not about our own strength or achievements but about surrendering to God’s grace. Like Isaiah, we are called to prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts and in the world around us. Like John the Baptist, we are called to humility and to point others to Christ. And like Jesus, we are called to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting in the Father’s love. May we allow God’s grace to transform us, that we might live as heirs of eternal life, always hopeful and always prepared to reveal his glory to the world.