Daily Readings - Sun Dec 17 2023
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 profound messages that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Isaiah presents a prophet anointed by the Spirit to bring good news to the afflicted and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. This passage, rooted in the context of Israel’s hope for redemption, highlights the Messiah’s mission to heal and restore. The second reading from Thessalonians encourages believers to embrace joy, constant prayer, and gratitude, while being open to the Spirit’s guidance. This epistle, written by Paul, emphasizes living faithfully and avoiding evil, trusting in God’s faithfulness. The Gospel features John the Baptist, who humbly testifies to Jesus as the Light, preparing the way for the Lord without seeking glory for himself.
These readings are intricately connected, each pointing to Jesus as the source of our joy and mission. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who embodies the Spirit’s anointing to bring salvation. John the Baptist’s role is to prepare the way for Jesus, illustrating humility and purpose. Thessalonians teaches us to live in the Spirit, which aligns with the mission and joy found in the other readings. Together, they remind us that our lives should reflect the Light of Christ, lived with humility and openness to the Spirit.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to live with joy and gratitude, embracing the Spirit’s guidance. Our mission is to point others to Christ, not seeking to be the center of attention but to serve and prepare the way for others to encounter Jesus. This requires humility and a willingness to let our lives be a testament to His presence. The moral lesson is clear: we are to live with joy, humility, and openness to the Spirit, using our lives to serve and direct others to Christ. Let us strive to embody these virtues, allowing His Light to shine through us.