Daily Readings - Sun Feb 10 2019
Isaiah
1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
1 Corinthians
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
Luke
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter three profound narratives that invite us to reflect on our response to God's call. The first reading from Isaiah describes the prophet's vision in the temple, where he is overwhelmed by God's holiness and humbled by his own unworthiness. Yet, through the cleansing by the seraphim, Isaiah is empowered to accept his mission. This passage reminds us that true humility is the foundation of any divine calling.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians presents the core of the Gospel message: Christ's death, resurrection, and the witnesses who attest to His victory over sin. Paul, once an unlikely apostle, emphasizes that the resurrection is the heart of our faith. His testimony, despite initial resistance, illustrates that God's grace can transform anyone into a vessel for His truth.
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the miraculous catch of fish, which serves as a turning point for Peter, James, and John. Despite their initial doubt and sense of inadequacy, they trust in Jesus' word and are called to a greater purpose. This story highlights that our limitations do not hinder God's ability to work through us.
These readings weave together a common theme: the call to serve God despite our perceived shortcomings. Isaiah, Paul, and the disciples all felt unworthy, yet they trusted in God's plan. In our lives, we are similarly called to recognize God's voice, embrace our mission, and trust in His grace. Let us approach our challenges with humility and faith, knowing that God equips us for the tasks He sets before us. May we, like these biblical figures, respond with courage and faith, allowing God to use us in ways beyond our imagination.