Daily Readings - Sat Jun 09 2018
Isaiah
9Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed."10I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Luke
41Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.43After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
Sermon
The first reading from Isaiah speaks of a people who, having been restored by God, are now recognized among the nations as blessed. They rejoice in the Lord, who has clothed them in salvation and justice. Isaiah uses the imagery of a bride and groom to express the joy and beauty of being transformed by God. The passage concludes with the promise that just as the earth produces its fruit, so too will God bring forth justice and praise for all to see. This is a vision of hope and renewal, reminding us that God’s work in us is always fruitful and visible to others.
The Gospel presents the story of the young Jesus in the temple. At the age of twelve, Jesus remains behind while his parents journey home, unaware of his absence. When they finally find him, he is engaged in deep conversation with the teachers of the law, astonishing them with his understanding. Mary and Joseph are perplexed, and Jesus’ response—“Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?”—reveals his deep awareness of his mission. This story highlights the tension between Mary and Joseph’s human concern and Jesus’ divine calling. It also shows Mary’s faithfulness in pondering these events in her heart, even when she does not fully understand them.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our place in the world. Isaiah reminds us that we are called to be signs of God’s justice and joy, while the Gospel challenges us to trust in God’s plan, even when it surpasses our understanding. In our daily lives, we are called to balance our responsibilities with a deep commitment to our faith. Like Mary, we must learn to trust and ponder God’s work in us, even in moments of uncertainty. May we, like the young Jesus, remain attentive to the Father’s will and allow His justice and praise to shine through us.