Daily Readings - Sun Sep 15 2024
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, trust, and discipleship. The first reading from Isaiah portrays a figure who, despite suffering and humiliation, remains steadfast in his trust in God. This figure, often seen as a prefiguration of Christ, embodies the virtue of perseverance in the face of adversity. The second reading from James emphasizes the importance of living out our faith through concrete actions, warning that faith without works is dead. Finally, the Gospel from Mark presents a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus, where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, but then struggles to accept the reality of the cross. Jesus responds by teaching that true discipleship requires self-denial and taking up one’s cross.
These readings are deeply interconnected. Isaiah’s trust in God, even in the face of suffering, foreshadows Jesus’ own acceptance of his mission, which includes the cross. James’ emphasis on works as an expression of faith complements Jesus’ teaching on the necessity of self-denial and sacrifice. Together, they remind us that faith is not merely an intellectual assent or emotional feeling but a commitment to living out God’s will in our lives. Just as Isaiah set his face “like a hard stone” in trust, and just as Jesus embraced the cross, so too are we called to embrace our own crosses in faith and trust in God.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Do we merely profess faith with our lips, or do we demonstrate it through our actions? Are we willing to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Christ? Like Peter, we may struggle with the idea of suffering, but Jesus reminds us that the path to true life is through self-denial and love. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting God even when the road ahead seems difficult? Am I putting my faith into practice by serving others and living out the Gospel? May we, like Isaiah, set our faces firmly toward God, trusting in His plan, and may our faith be made visible through our works of love and sacrifice.