Daily Readings - Sun Jan 12 2025
Isaiah
1Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Titus
11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Luke
15And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:21Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Sermon
**Sermon Based on the Readings**
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the themes of preparation, grace, and the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a message of comfort and hope directed to a people in exile. The prophet calls for the preparation of a way for the Lord, symbolizing the clearing of spiritual pathways for God’s arrival. This text, written during a time of despair, offers assurance that God’s mercy and forgiveness are forthcoming, urging the people to ready their hearts for His coming.
The second reading from Titus shifts our focus to the manifestation of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Titus emphasizes that God’s grace is not merely a future hope but a present reality that transforms us. This grace calls us to live virtuously, rejecting worldly desires and embracing a life of justice and piety. The reading reminds us that our salvation is not through our own efforts but through God’s mercy and the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel from Luke beautifully ties these themes together. John the Baptist, recognizing his role as a precursor to Jesus, humbly acknowledges the limitations of his baptism with water. The baptism of Jesus, accompanied by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father, signifies the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and the outpouring of Titus’s grace. This event is a powerful reminder of God’s love and our adoption as His children.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to prepare our hearts for God’s presence, much like Isaiah’s call to clear the way. We are invited to trust in God’s grace, as Titus reminds us, and to live out our faith in actions that reflect His love. Just as Jesus’s baptism marked the beginning of His mission, our own baptism calls us to a life of service and holiness. May we, like the people in the Gospel, open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, allowing God’s transformative grace to shape us anew.