Daily Readings - Sat Dec 07 2019
Isaiah
19For the people of Zion will live in Jerusalem. Bitterly, you will not weep. Mercifully, he will take pity on you. At the voice of your outcry, as soon as he hears, he will respond to you20And the Lord will give you thick bread and accessible water. And he will not cause your teacher to fly away from you anymore. And your eyes will behold your instructor21And your ears will listen to the word of one admonishing you behind your back: "This is the way! Walk in it! And do not turn aside, neither to the right, nor to the left.23And wherever you sow seed upon the earth, rain will be given to the seed. And bread from the grain of the earth will be very plentiful and full. In that day, the lamb will pasture in the spacious land of your possession24And your bulls, and the colts of the donkeys that work the ground, will eat a mix of grains like that winnowed on the threshing floor25And there will be, on every lofty mountain, and on every elevated hill, rivers of running water, in the day of the slaughter of many, when the tower will fall26And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord will bind the wound of his people, and when he will heal the stroke of their scourge
Matthew
35And Jesus traveled throughout all of the cities and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every illness and every infirmity36Then, seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them, because they were distressed and were reclining, like sheep without a shepherd37Then he said to his disciples: "The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few38Therefore, petition the Lord of the harvest, so that he may sent out laborers to his harvest.
1And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity5Jesus sent these twelve, instructing them, saying: "Do not travel by the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into the city of the Samaritans6but instead go to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel7And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.8Cure the infirm, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have received freely, so give freely
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound visions of God's compassion and our role within His plan. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a restored Israel, where God's people live in abundance and guidance, free from sorrow. This vision is not just a promise of material prosperity but a spiritual renewal, where God's presence is palpable, and His people are led with wisdom and care. In contrast, Matthew's Gospel presents Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds who are like sheep without a shepherd. Recognizing their spiritual hunger, Jesus calls His disciples to be laborers in a bountiful harvest, entrusted with the mission to heal, preach, and bring hope to those in need.
These readings are deeply connected, as both highlight God's compassionate heart and the responsibility of His followers to act. Isaiah's prophecy of restoration finds its fulfillment in the ministry of Jesus and the church. Just as God promised to guide and provide for His people, Jesus commissions His disciples to continue this work of compassion and restoration. The connection reminds us that God's plan is both timeless and timely, requiring active participation from His people.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to trust in God's providence and to embody His compassion. Like the disciples, we are called to step out in faith, serving others and sharing the Good News. The moral lesson here is clear: compassion is not passive but active, requiring us to reach out and make a difference. As we navigate our own challenges, may we find strength in God's promise of guidance and may we, like Jesus, be moved to serve others with love and compassion.