Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 13, 2019
First Reading: Isaiah 40.1-5, 9-11
1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.3A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."9You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"10See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Psalm 104
1Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.2He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent3and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.4He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.5He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.6You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.7But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;8they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.9You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.10He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.11They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.13He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.14He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate- bringing forth food from the earth:15wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.16The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.17There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees.18The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the coneys.19The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.20You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.21The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.22The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens.23Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.24How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.25There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small.26There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.27These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.28When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.29When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.30When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.31May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-32he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.33I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.34May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.35But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD.
Second Reading: Titus 2.11-14; 3.4-7
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,13while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Gospel: Luke 3.15-16, 21-22
15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of hope, preparation, and the transformative power of God’s grace. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a message of consolation and hope. The prophet speaks to a people in exile, offering them comfort and promising that their suffering will end. He calls them to prepare the way for the Lord, emphasizing that every valley will be exalted and every mountain will be made low. This is a call to humility and openness, reminding us that God’s glory will be revealed to all. Isaiah’s words are not just for his time but resonate with us today, urging us to clear the path in our hearts for the Lord’s presence.
The second reading from Titus builds on this theme of preparation but shifts the focus to the transformative power of God’s grace. St. Paul reminds us that God’s grace has appeared to all people, instructing us to reject sin and live lives marked by sobriety, justice, and piety. This is not about earning God’s favor through our works but about responding to the gift of salvation we have already received. Titus emphasizes that we are saved by God’s mercy, not by our own efforts, and that this mercy renews us through the Holy Spirit. This reading challenges us to live in a way that reflects the hope we have in Christ, trusting in his promise of eternal life.
In the Gospel, Luke presents us with the figure of John the Baptist, who humbly acknowledges that he is not the Messiah but merely a precursor. John’s baptism with water is a symbol of repentance, but he points to one greater than himself who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The scene of Jesus’ baptism is a profound moment of revelation. As Jesus prays, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice affirms Jesus as his beloved Son. This moment is not just about Jesus; it is about us. Through our own baptism, we are called to share in Christ’s mission and to live as beloved children of God, guided by the Holy Spirit.
These readings remind us that our lives are not about our own strength or achievements but about surrendering to God’s grace. Like Isaiah, we are called to prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts and in the world around us. Like John the Baptist, we are called to humility and to point others to Christ. And like Jesus, we are called to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting in the Father’s love. May we allow God’s grace to transform us, that we might live as heirs of eternal life, always hopeful and always prepared to reveal his glory to the world.