Daily Readings - Sun Feb 09 2025
Isaiah
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.2Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.3And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.5"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."6Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.7With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
1 Corinthians
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Luke
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.11Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and calling. Isaiah, in the first reading, experiences a vision of God's glory in the temple, leading to a deep sense of unworthiness, yet he is cleansed and commissioned as a prophet. This vision occurs during a time of crisis for the kingdom, highlighting the need for prophetic voices. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, underscores the resurrection of Christ as the cornerstone of Christian faith, emphasizing its historical and theological significance. The Gospel presents Peter, a humble fisherman, who after a miraculous catch, recognizes his sinfulness and is called by Jesus to follow Him, becoming a disciple.
These readings intertwine beautifully, each illustrating a response to God's call amidst feelings of inadequacy. Isaiah and Peter both express humility, yet they are empowered by God's grace to fulfill their missions. Paul's focus on the resurrection connects to the Gospel, as it reveals the ultimate purpose of Jesus' ministry—the triumph over sin and death, which enables our own calling.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and recognize our unworthiness before God. Like Peter, we may feel inadequate, but it is through His grace that we are made worthy. The call to follow Jesus is universal, urging us to trust in His providence and step into the unknown with faith. As we navigate our own journeys, let us remember that our worth comes from God, not ourselves, and be open to serving Him in our unique ways.
The moral lesson here is clear: humility, grace, and mission. We are all part of God's plan, called to serve with the gifts we have. Let us respond with willingness, trusting in God's guidance, and remembering that our role in His plan is both vital and transformative.