Daily Readings - Mon Aug 15 2022
Revelation
19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
1 Corinthians
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.
Luke
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the triumph of God’s plan and the hope it brings to our lives. In the first reading from Revelation, we see a dramatic vision of a woman and a dragon, symbols of the cosmic struggle between good and evil. The woman, often interpreted as Mary, represents the Church and God’s people, while the dragon signifies Satan and the forces of evil. This vision reminds us that the battle between light and darkness is real, but it also assures us that God’s victory is already secure. The dragon is cast down, and the kingdom of God is established through Christ.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians connects this cosmic struggle to the resurrection of Christ. Paul explains that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection of the dead come through Christ. This passage emphasizes that Christ’s triumph over death is the foundation of our hope. His resurrection is not just a historical event but a transformative reality that shapes our lives. Through Christ, we know that all things will be subjected to God, and even death itself will be destroyed.
In the Gospel, we witness the joy and faith of Mary and Elizabeth as they celebrate the miraculous pregnancies that will bring John the Baptist and Jesus into the world. Mary’s Magnificat is a hymn of praise that reflects her deep trust in God’s plan. She recognizes that God has done great things for her and for all humanity. Her humility and faith are a model for us, reminding us to trust in God’s providence and to rejoice in His work, even in the midst of challenges.
These readings call us to live with hope and faith, knowing that God’s plan is unfolding in our lives and in the world. Like Mary, we are called to magnify the Lord and to trust in His mercy and power. Let us embrace the joy of knowing that we are part of God’s victorious plan, and let us strive to live as children of light, trusting in His ultimate triumph over evil.