Daily Readings - Sun Jan 15 2023
Isaiah
3He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."5And now the LORD says- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength-6he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
1 Corinthians
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours:3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
John
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."32Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Isaiah 49 introduces the servant of the Lord, whose mission extends beyond Israel to all nations, emphasizing a universal call to be a light to the Gentiles. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 is Paul's greeting to the Corinthians, highlighting their sanctification and calling to sainthood, reminding us of our divine vocation. The Gospel, John 1:29-34, presents John the Baptist's testimony, identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
These readings are interconnected, as Isaiah's servant prefigures Jesus, who fulfills the mission of salvation for all. Paul's letter shows the early Christian community living out this mission, called to holiness. John's Gospel reveals Jesus as the one anointed by the Spirit, embodying the servant's role. Together, they illustrate the progression from prophecy to fulfillment, emphasizing our universal call to serve and spread God's message.
In our daily lives, we are called to be light in the world, recognizing Jesus as our savior. We must embrace our role in God's mission, living as saints and spreading His message. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not just for us but for the world. Let us strive to reflect God's light, inspired by Jesus, the Lamb of God, and live out our calling with grace and peace.