Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 19, 2020
First Reading: Isaiah 49.3, 5-6
3And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.5And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Psalm 40
1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.6Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.11Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.12For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.14Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.15Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.16Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.17But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.1-3
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: John 1.29-34
29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of identity, mission, and the universal call to holiness. The first reading from Isaiah presents the prophet as a servant of God, called not only to restore Israel but also to be a light to the Gentiles. This passage emphasizes God’s broader plan of salvation, which extends beyond the chosen people to all nations. The second reading from 1 Corinthians introduces Paul, who humbly identifies himself as an apostle by God’s will, addressing a diverse church in Corinth. He reminds them of their sanctification in Christ and their unity in faith. The Gospel from John vividly describes John the Baptist’s testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God, highlighting Jesus’ divine mission and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him.
These readings are deeply interconnected. Isaiah’s servant song points to a future messiah who would bring light to all people, and John’s Gospel reveals Jesus as the fulfillment of that prophecy. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians underscores the universal scope of Christ’s mission, as the church at Corinth, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, is called to holiness. Together, the readings remind us that God’s plan of salvation is not limited to a select few but is intended for the entire world.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own identity and mission as followers of Christ. Like Isaiah and Paul, we are called to be servants and witnesses of God’s love. John the Baptist’s humility and willingness to step aside for Jesus challenge us to recognize our role in pointing others to Christ. Let us embrace our calling to be light in the darkness, to serve with humility, and to share the Good News with all we encounter. May we, like the Corinthians, grow in holiness and unity, knowing that we are part of a universal family of faith.