Daily Readings - Sat Jun 25 2022
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 readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of divine favor, faith, and the call to live in harmony with God’s plan. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful expression of joy and gratitude as the prophet describes the people of God as blessed and adorned with the garments of salvation and justice. This passage is set in the context of Israel’s return from exile, where Isaiah offers hope and assurance that God’s favor will once again rest upon His people. The imagery of a bride and groom adorned in their finest attire symbolizes the restoration and joy that come from being in a right relationship with God.
In the Gospel, we encounter the story of the young Jesus in the temple. This narrative marks a significant moment in Luke’s account of Jesus’ life, as it reveals His deep connection to His Father’s mission even from a young age. Mary and Joseph, though worried and searching for Him, find Jesus engaged in profound conversation with the teachers of the law. His response, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” highlights His singular focus on fulfilling God’s will. This story reminds us that faith is not merely about following traditions or customs but about seeking a deeper understanding of God’s plan for our lives.
These readings challenge us to examine our own relationship with God. Like the people in Isaiah, we are called to recognize the ways in which God has blessed us and to live in gratitude and justice. Like Mary and Joseph, we are invited to trust in God’s plan, even when it is not immediately clear. In our daily lives, this means taking time to reflect on how God is present in our experiences and being open to His guidance. May we, like the young Jesus, seek to grow in wisdom and grace, and may we, like Mary, treasure these moments of insight in our hearts.