Daily Readings - Thu Aug 15 2024
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
In today's readings, we journey through a narrative of cosmic struggle, divine triumph, and the profound impact of faith. The first reading from Revelation presents a symbolic vision of a woman, often interpreted as Mary or the Church, giving birth to a male child, Jesus, while a dragon, symbolizing Satan, seeks to destroy Him. This apocalyptic imagery reminds us of the eternal conflict between good and evil, yet assures us of God's protective care for His people. The woman's safe haven signifies God's providence and the ultimate victory of His kingdom.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the theological underpinning of Christ's resurrection. Paul emphasizes that just as death came through Adam, so too does life come through Christ. This passage underscores the universality of redemption and the certainty of resurrection, culminating in Christ's reign until all enemies, including death, are vanquished. It invites us to reflect on the transformative power of Christ's victory in our lives.
The Gospel of Luke presents the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, a moment of profound faith and joy. Mary's Magnificat is a hymn of praise, celebrating God's mercy and the reversal of fortunes for the humble and oppressed. This narrative highlights the significance of Mary's faith and the early signs of Jesus's mission, illustrating the impact of trusting in God's plan.
Together, these readings weave a tapestry of God's overarching plan, from the cosmic battle to the intimate moments of faith. They remind us to trust in God's providence, embrace hope in His victories, and live with the faith exemplified by Mary. In our daily lives, let us draw strength from these narratives, knowing that despite life's struggles, God's triumph is assured. The moral lesson is clear: cultivate faith, trust in God's plan, and find joy in His providence.