1ST READING
Isaiah knows the power of the word. When the spoken word is a word of truth, it has a power beyond our understanding. Isaiah knows this and he is working at making his words even more powerful. We have the Gospel at our disposal, which is something far more powerful than what God gives Isaiah.
Isaiah 49:1-6
1 Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. 2 He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. 3 You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. 4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God. 5 For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! 6 It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
P S A L M
Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15
R: I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
1 O Lord, you have probed me and you know me: 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R) My soul also you knew full well; 15 nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. (R)
2ND READING
John the Baptist is also very aware of the power of the truth. In almost all the texts that deal with John the Baptist and Jesus, we find that John always sticks to the truth that Jesus is greater than he is and that we need to focus on what Jesus has to say. Let us carefully examine all the things Jesus has to say in the Gospels to try and discern what we should focus on to be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Acts 13:22-26
22 In those days, Paul said: “God raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’ 26 My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent.”
GOSPEL
Zechariah obediently names his son John. This shift from tradition is something that should catch our attention, and thus, we should look at the person of John a little more closely than we would have otherwise. John becomes the forerunner of Jesus and prepares the way for the proclamation and ministry of the Gospel. John preceded Jesus; we follow him. Let us pray we do as well as John did.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
Luke 1:57-66, 80
57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. 1st READING 2nd READING
GOSPEL PSALM
TODAY’S
BLESSING
LIST
think: John preceded Jesus; we follow him. Let us pray we do as well as John did.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 7-9
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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