Daily Readings - Sun Feb 09 2025
Isaiah
1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
1 Corinthians
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
Luke
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and calling. Isaiah, in the first reading, experiences a vision of God's glory in the temple, leading to a deep sense of unworthiness, yet he is cleansed and commissioned as a prophet. This vision occurs during a time of crisis for the kingdom, highlighting the need for prophetic voices. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, underscores the resurrection of Christ as the cornerstone of Christian faith, emphasizing its historical and theological significance. The Gospel presents Peter, a humble fisherman, who after a miraculous catch, recognizes his sinfulness and is called by Jesus to follow Him, becoming a disciple.
These readings intertwine beautifully, each illustrating a response to God's call amidst feelings of inadequacy. Isaiah and Peter both express humility, yet they are empowered by God's grace to fulfill their missions. Paul's focus on the resurrection connects to the Gospel, as it reveals the ultimate purpose of Jesus' ministry—the triumph over sin and death, which enables our own calling.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and recognize our unworthiness before God. Like Peter, we may feel inadequate, but it is through His grace that we are made worthy. The call to follow Jesus is universal, urging us to trust in His providence and step into the unknown with faith. As we navigate our own journeys, let us remember that our worth comes from God, not ourselves, and be open to serving Him in our unique ways.
The moral lesson here is clear: humility, grace, and mission. We are all part of God's plan, called to serve with the gifts we have. Let us respond with willingness, trusting in God's guidance, and remembering that our role in His plan is both vital and transformative.