Daily Readings - Mon Mar 15 2021
Isaiah
17"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.19I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.20"Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.21They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
John
43After the two days he left for Galilee.44(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)45When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.46Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.47When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.48"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."49The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."50Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.52When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."53Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.
Sermon
The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future where God creates new heavens and a new earth, a place where sorrow and pain are no more. This vision of eternal joy and peace is a promise of hope for God’s people, reminding us that our current struggles are not the end of the story. The Gospel continues this theme of hope as Jesus, through his divine power, heals the son of a royal official. Despite initial doubts, the official’s faith in Jesus leads to a miraculous restoration of life, showcasing the transformative power of trust in God.
Both readings highlight the importance of faith and hope in our relationship with God. Isaiah’s prophecy encourages us to look beyond our present sufferings and trust in God’s promise of eternal joy. Similarly, the Gospel story reminds us that even when we face uncertainty or doubt, placing our trust in Jesus can lead to unexpected blessings. The official’s plea for his son’s healing demonstrates how faith, even in its simplest form, can move God to act in profound ways.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. When we face challenges or uncertainties, we are called to hold onto hope, just as Isaiah envisioned, and to trust in God’s plan, just as the royal official did. Jesus’ miracles and teachings remind us that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it immediately. Let us strive to deepen our faith, trusting that God’s promises are true and that He will bring us to a place of eternal joy and peace.