Daily Readings - Sun Jan 15 2023
Isaiah
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.
1 Corinthians
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.
John
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 profound messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Isaiah 49 introduces the servant of the Lord, whose mission extends beyond Israel to all nations, emphasizing a universal call to be a light to the Gentiles. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 is Paul's greeting to the Corinthians, highlighting their sanctification and calling to sainthood, reminding us of our divine vocation. The Gospel, John 1:29-34, presents John the Baptist's testimony, identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
These readings are interconnected, as Isaiah's servant prefigures Jesus, who fulfills the mission of salvation for all. Paul's letter shows the early Christian community living out this mission, called to holiness. John's Gospel reveals Jesus as the one anointed by the Spirit, embodying the servant's role. Together, they illustrate the progression from prophecy to fulfillment, emphasizing our universal call to serve and spread God's message.
In our daily lives, we are called to be light in the world, recognizing Jesus as our savior. We must embrace our role in God's mission, living as saints and spreading His message. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not just for us but for the world. Let us strive to reflect God's light, inspired by Jesus, the Lamb of God, and live out our calling with grace and peace.