Daily Readings - Sun Sep 15 2024
Isaiah
5The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.7For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.8He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.9Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
James
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Mark
27And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?28And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.29And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.30And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.33But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, trust, and discipleship. The first reading from Isaiah portrays a figure who, despite suffering and humiliation, remains steadfast in his trust in God. This figure, often seen as a prefiguration of Christ, embodies the virtue of perseverance in the face of adversity. The second reading from James emphasizes the importance of living out our faith through concrete actions, warning that faith without works is dead. Finally, the Gospel from Mark presents a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus, where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, but then struggles to accept the reality of the cross. Jesus responds by teaching that true discipleship requires self-denial and taking up one’s cross.
These readings are deeply interconnected. Isaiah’s trust in God, even in the face of suffering, foreshadows Jesus’ own acceptance of his mission, which includes the cross. James’ emphasis on works as an expression of faith complements Jesus’ teaching on the necessity of self-denial and sacrifice. Together, they remind us that faith is not merely an intellectual assent or emotional feeling but a commitment to living out God’s will in our lives. Just as Isaiah set his face “like a hard stone” in trust, and just as Jesus embraced the cross, so too are we called to embrace our own crosses in faith and trust in God.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Do we merely profess faith with our lips, or do we demonstrate it through our actions? Are we willing to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Christ? Like Peter, we may struggle with the idea of suffering, but Jesus reminds us that the path to true life is through self-denial and love. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting God even when the road ahead seems difficult? Am I putting my faith into practice by serving others and living out the Gospel? May we, like Isaiah, set our faces firmly toward God, trusting in His plan, and may our faith be made visible through our works of love and sacrifice.