Reading 1 Is 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25
I am the LORD, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the LORD, have created this.
For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not creating it to be a waste,
but designing it be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Who announced this from the beginning
and foretold it from of old?
Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God?
There is no just and saving God but me.
Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,
Saying, "Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.
Before him in shame shall come
all who vent their anger against him.
In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory
of all the descendants of Israel."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (Isaiah 45:8) Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD ?for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Gospel Lk 7:18b-23
At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
"John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'"
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind.
And Jesus said to them in reply,
"Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."
Meditation: Isaiah 45:6-8,18,21-25
“I am the Lord, there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:6)
Doesn’t that sound a bit arrogant of God? Or at least a little boastful? Is he really so insecure that he has to draw so much attention to himself? Not at all!
God isn’t looking to sing his own praises or pat himself on the back for being so great. Rather, these affirmations of the Lord’s greatness are meant to form the solid foundation for our own faith and trust in him. He tells us about himself so frequently because he wants us to know how trustworthy, how faithful, how reliable he is.
We all have many different ideas about God—some good, some not so good. So God wants to teach us what is right and wrong about these ideas. Mainly, he wants us to know that we need to give him a place of honor in our lives. We need to put him before everything else.
Today’s first reading emphasizes the sovereignty and might of God. He is “the creator of the heavens, the designer and maker of the earth” (Isaiah 45:18). There is no other God; to him every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall acknowledge his power (45:23). This is the God we worship. This is the God who has promised to save us!
What could be better than to spend time reflecting on who God is? What could be a better way to strengthen the foundation of your faith? Take time in your prayer today to ponder the Scripture passages below—verses that proclaim God’s sovereignty and power: “There is no Holy One like the Lord; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2). “You are great and do wondrous deeds; and you alone are God” (Psalm 86:10). “No one is like you, O Lord, great are you, great and mighty is your name” (Jeremiah 10:6). “To whom can you liken God? With what equal can you confront him?” (Isaiah 40:18).
Let these passages help you recall God’s faithfulness and mercy. Let them be a springboard to help you think about the marvelous things you’ve seen him do for you or a loved one. The more you know about the Lord, the easier it will be to trust him with your whole life!
“Lord God, you are sovereign; indeed, there is none to compare with you in your greatness and mercy! I surrender my life to you.”
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