Daily Readings - Sun Dec 13 2020
Isaiah
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
1 Thessalonians
16Rejoice evermore.17Pray without ceasing.18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.19Quench not the Spirit.20Despise not prophesyings.21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.22Abstain from all appearance of evil.23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
John
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages that guide us on our spiritual journey. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of the anointed one, tasked with bringing hope and justice to a world in need. This prophecy, fulfilled in Jesus, reminds us of the transformative power of God's presence in our lives. The second reading from Thessalonians encourages us to embrace a life of joy, prayer, and gratitude, trusting in God's will and avoiding anything that might dampen our spiritual fervor. Here, Paul underscores the importance of living faithfully, even amidst challenges.
The Gospel introduces John the Baptist, a humble figure who prepares the way for the Messiah. John's role is not to seek glory but to point others to the Light, Jesus Christ. His humility and focus on his mission serve as a model for us, reminding us to stay grounded and purposeful in our own lives.
Connecting these readings, we see a common thread of purpose and humility. Isaiah's prophecy, John's preparatory role, and Paul's exhortation all point to a life lived with intention and faith. In our daily lives, this means embracing our roles with humility, trusting in God's plan, and maintaining joy and gratitude. The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to live with purpose, pointing others to God through our actions and attitudes, just as John the Baptist did. May we, like John, find joy in preparing the way for the Lord, trusting in His plan and living faithfully each day.