Daily Readings - Mon Mar 31 2025
Isaiah
17"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.19I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.20"Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.21They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
John
43After the two days he left for Galilee.44(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)45When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.46Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.47When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.48"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."49The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."50Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.52When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."53Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, healing, and faith. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future where sorrow and pain are erased, replaced by joy and prosperity. This vision of a new heavens and a new earth is a promise of restoration, offering comfort to a people who had endured hardship. The Gospel from John tells the story of Jesus healing the royal official's son, a miracle that underscores Jesus' divine authority and the transformative power of faith.
These readings are connected by the theme of God's desire to heal and restore. Isaiah's prophecy speaks of a broader, future restoration, while John's account provides a specific example of Jesus' healing power. Together, they remind us that God's plan is both ultimate and intimate, encompassing both the grand future and our personal struggles.
In our daily lives, we face various forms of affliction, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Like the royal official, we are called to trust in God's word, even when we cannot see the outcome. The lesson here is one of faith and trust. Just as the official believed Jesus without immediate proof, we too can place our trust in God's promises. This faith not only brings us comfort but also inspires us to pray with perseverance and confidence in God's mercy. Let us hold onto this hope and trust, knowing that God's healing touch is available to us all.