Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2019
Isaiah
1"Be consoled, be consoled, O my people!" says your God2Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call out to her! For her malice has reached its end. Her iniquity has been forgiven. She has received double for all her sins from the hand of the Lord3The voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight the paths of our God, in a solitary place4Every valley will be exalted, and every mountain and hill will be brought low. And the crooked will be straightened, and the uneven will become level ways5And the glory of the Lord will be revealed. And all flesh together will see that the mouth of the Lord has spoken.6The voice of one saying, "Cry out!" And I said, "What should I cry out?" "All flesh is grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field7The grass has dried up, and the flower has fallen. For the Spirit of the Lord has blown over it. Truly, the people are like grass8The grass has dried up, and the flower has fallen. But the Word of our Lord remains for eternity.9You who evangelize Zion, climb a high mountain! You who evangelize Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah: "Behold, your God!10Behold, the Lord God will arrive in strength, and his arm will rule. Behold, his reward is with him, and his work is before him11He will pasture his flock like a shepherd. He will gather together the lambs with his arm, and he will lift them up to his bosom, and he himself will carry the very young
Matthew
12How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray13And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray14Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost
Sermon
The readings today offer us a powerful message of hope, mercy, and the enduring love of God. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophet calling out to a people in exile, offering them comfort and assurance that their time of suffering is coming to an end. Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s glory being revealed and His Word standing eternal, even as human life is fleeting like grass and flowers. The prophet’s words are a reminder that no matter how dark our circumstances may seem, God is always near, ready to shepherd us with tenderness and strength.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. This story is not just about a shepherd’s dedication; it is about the heart of God. It tells us that each of us is precious to God, and He desires that none of us be lost. The parable challenges us to reflect on how we value and care for one another, especially those who feel forgotten or marginalized. Just as the shepherd rejoices over the one found sheep, God rejoices over every soul that returns to Him.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on God’s mercy and our responsibility to live as instruments of that mercy. Isaiah reminds us that God’s Word endures forever, and Jesus shows us that His love is personal and relentless. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate this love—whether by offering a kind word to someone feeling lost, praying for those who have wandered from the faith, or simply trusting in God’s promise to guide us through life’s uncertainties. Let us embrace the hope and comfort these readings offer, and let us strive to be bearers of God’s love to a world in need.