Daily Readings - Sun Sep 12 2021
Isaiah
5The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.6I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.7Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.8He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!9It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
James
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Mark
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"28They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. "30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, trust, and discipleship. In the first reading from Isaiah, the prophet speaks of his unwavering trust in God despite suffering and rejection. He describes how he has offered his body to those who strike him and his face to those who spit on him, yet he remains unashamed because he knows the Lord is his helper. This passage is set in the context of Israel’s exile and restoration, where Isaiah’s fidelity to God’s will serves as a model for the people’s return to faithfulness. His trust in God is not passive but active, enduring hardship without turning back.
In the second reading from James, we are reminded that faith without works is dead. James challenges us to move beyond mere professions of faith and to demonstrate our commitment through concrete actions. He uses the example of someone who wishes another well but fails to provide for their needs, emphasizing that true faith must be lived out in service to others. This teaching is part of James’ broader call to live out the gospel in practical ways, showing that our relationship with God is not just about belief but about how we love and care for one another.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry. After Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, Jesus begins to teach his disciples about the necessity of his suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter’s resistance to this plan reveals a misunderstanding of what it means to follow Jesus. In response, Jesus calls his disciples to embrace self-denial and take up their cross, emphasizing that true discipleship requires surrender and trust in God’s plan. This passage is a call to move beyond our own comfort and desires, trusting that God’s way, though difficult, leads to life.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s trust in the face of suffering, James’ call to active faith, and Jesus’ teaching on self-denial all point to the same truth: living out our faith requires us to surrender our own will and trust in God’s plan, even when it is challenging. In our daily lives, this means being willing to embrace difficulties with faith, putting our faith into action through service, and trusting that God’s way leads to true life. May we, like Isaiah, set our faces like flint, trusting in God’s help, and may we, like Jesus, embrace the cross with courage and faith.