Daily Readings - Tue Aug 15 2017

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 15.20-26

²⁰But now Christ has risen again from the dead, as the first-fruits of those who sleep²¹For certainly, death came through a man. And so, the resurrection of the dead came through a ma²²And just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be brought to life²³but each one in his proper order: Christ, as the first-fruits, and next, those who are of Christ, who have believed in his advent²⁴Afterwards is the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will have emptied all principality, and authority, and power²⁵For it is necessary for him to reign, until he has set all his enemies under his feet²⁶Lastly, the enemy called death shall be destroyed. For he has subjected all things under his feet. And although he says

Gospel - Luke 1.39-56

Luke

Chapter 1

³⁹And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah⁴⁰And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth⁴¹And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit⁴²And she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb⁴³And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me⁴⁴For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy⁴⁵And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord⁴⁷And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour⁴⁸For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed⁴⁹For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name⁵⁰And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him⁵¹He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart⁵²He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty⁵⁴He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy⁵⁵just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.⁵⁶Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful expressions of faith and transformation. The second reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us of the triumph of Christ’s resurrection, which is not just a historical event but a promise of eternal life for all believers. Paul emphasizes that just as death came through Adam, so too has the resurrection come through Christ. This passage invites us to reflect on the ultimate victory of God over sin and death, and the hope it brings to our lives. The Gospel, taken from Luke, presents the beautiful scene of the Visitation, where Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes the divine presence in Mary and praises her for her faith. Mary, in turn, responds with the Magnificat, a hymn of praise that celebrates God’s mercy, justice, and faithfulness. The readings are deeply connected in their themes of faith, hope, and the transformative power of God’s grace. In Corinthians, Paul links the resurrection of Christ to the ultimate defeat of all enemies, including death. This hope is not just for the future but is already at work in us, empowering us to live as children of God. In the Gospel, Mary’s faith and trust in God’s plan are exemplified. Her visit to Elizabeth and her joyful praise in the Magnificat show how surrendering to God’s will leads to spiritual transformation and the fulfillment of His promises. Both readings remind us that our faith is not passive but active, calling us to trust in God’s plan and to live with hope and joy, even in the face of challenges. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves how we can apply this faith and hope to our daily lives. Like Mary, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems uncertain or difficult. Like Paul, we are reminded to live with the confidence that Christ’s resurrection has already begun to transform us and the world around us. Let us strive to magnify God in our hearts and actions, recognizing His mercy and justice in our lives. May we, like Mary and Elizabeth, be bearers of joy and hope to those around us, trusting that God’s promises are being fulfilled in us and through us.