Daily Readings - Mon Aug 15 2022
Revelation
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.
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
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
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 invite us to reflect on the triumph of God’s plan and the hope it brings to our lives. In the first reading from Revelation, we see a dramatic vision of a woman and a dragon, symbols of the cosmic struggle between good and evil. The woman, often interpreted as Mary, represents the Church and God’s people, while the dragon signifies Satan and the forces of evil. This vision reminds us that the battle between light and darkness is real, but it also assures us that God’s victory is already secure. The dragon is cast down, and the kingdom of God is established through Christ.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians connects this cosmic struggle to the resurrection of Christ. Paul explains that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection of the dead come through Christ. This passage emphasizes that Christ’s triumph over death is the foundation of our hope. His resurrection is not just a historical event but a transformative reality that shapes our lives. Through Christ, we know that all things will be subjected to God, and even death itself will be destroyed.
In the Gospel, we witness the joy and faith of Mary and Elizabeth as they celebrate the miraculous pregnancies that will bring John the Baptist and Jesus into the world. Mary’s Magnificat is a hymn of praise that reflects her deep trust in God’s plan. She recognizes that God has done great things for her and for all humanity. Her humility and faith are a model for us, reminding us to trust in God’s providence and to rejoice in His work, even in the midst of challenges.
These readings call us to live with hope and faith, knowing that God’s plan is unfolding in our lives and in the world. Like Mary, we are called to magnify the Lord and to trust in His mercy and power. Let us embrace the joy of knowing that we are part of God’s victorious plan, and let us strive to live as children of light, trusting in His ultimate triumph over evil.