Daily Readings - Sun Aug 15 2021

¹⁹Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Chapter 12

¹A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.²She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.³Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.⁴His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.⁵She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.⁶The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.¹⁰Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

1 Corinthians

Chapter 15

²⁰But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.²¹For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.²²For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.²³But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.²⁴Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.²⁵For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.²⁶The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Luke

Chapter 1

³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,⁴⁸for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name.⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."⁵⁶Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Sermon

The readings today present a powerful narrative of hope, struggle, and ultimate triumph, weaving together themes of cosmic battle, resurrection, and the humble acceptance of God’s will. In the first reading from Revelation, we encounter a dramatic vision: a woman clothed with the sun, persecuted by a great dragon, yet ultimately protected by God. This woman symbolizes both Mary and the Church, enduring suffering but destined for victory. The passage reminds us that the struggle between good and evil is universal, but God’s power and mercy ensure that evil will not prevail. In the second reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul connects the resurrection of Christ to the ultimate defeat of death and sin. Just as Adam brought death into the world, Christ, the new Adam, brings life and resurrection. This passage invites us to reflect on the hope that lies at the heart of our faith: Christ’s victory over death is not just a past event but an ongoing reality that transforms our lives. His reign continues until all things are subjected to God, and we are called to live in the confidence of this triumph. The Gospel from Luke brings us to a moment of profound humility and joy. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, and her beautiful Magnificat, reveal a young woman who, despite the extraordinary circumstances of her life, surrenders completely to God’s plan. Her song of praise is not just a celebration of God’s greatness but also a recognition of his mercy and justice, which lift up the lowly and fulfill his promises to Israel. Mary’s example teaches us to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain, and to cultivate a spirit of humility and gratitude. These readings remind us that our faith is rooted in the assurance of God’s victory over sin and death. Like Mary, we are called to embrace God’s will with trust and humility, even in the face of challenges. As we navigate our own struggles, we can draw strength from the knowledge that Christ’s resurrection has already begun to transform the world. Let us live each day with the hope of eternal life, and may our hearts, like Mary’s, magnify the Lord in all we do.