Daily Readings - Sun Dec 15 2019

¹The desolate and impassable land will rejoice, and the place of solitude will exult, and it will flourish like the lily²It will spring up and blossom, and it will exult with rejoicing and praising. The glory of Lebanon has been given to it, with the beauty of Carmel and Sharon. These will see the glory of the Lord and the beauty of our God³Strengthen the lax hands, and confirm the weak knees⁴Say to the fainthearted: "Take courage and fear not! Behold, your God will bring the vindication of retribution. God himself will arrive to save you.⁵Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be cleared⁶Then the disabled will leap like a buck, and the tongue of the mute will be untied. For the waters have burst forth in the desert, and torrents in solitary places¹⁰And the redeemed of the Lord will be converted, and they will return to Zion with praising. And everlasting joy will be upon their heads. They will obtain gladness and rejoicing. For pain and sorrow will flee away

James

Chapter 5

⁷Therefore, be patient, brothers, until the advent of the Lord. Consider that the farmer anticipates the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently, until he receives the early and the late rains⁸Therefore, you too should be patient and should strengthen your hearts. For the advent of the Lord draws near⁹Brothers, do not complain against one another, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door¹⁰My brothers, consider the Prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of departing from evil, of labor, and of patience

Matthew

Chapter 11

²Now when John had heard, in prison, about the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to him³"Are you he who is to come, or should we expect another?⁴And Jesus, responding, said to them: "Go and report to John what you have heard and seen⁵The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor are evangelized⁶And blessed is he who has found no offense in me.⁷Then, after they departed, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind⁸So what did you go out to see? A man in soft garments? Behold, those who are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings⁹Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet¹⁰For this is he, of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my Angel before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.¹¹Amen I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter a harmonious blend of prophecy, encouragement, and revelation, each guiding us toward a deeper understanding of faith and patience. The first reading from Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a restored world where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame leap, symbolizing the messianic era of salvation. This prophecy, born from a time of exile and despair, offers hope of a future where God's glory will be fully revealed. In the second reading, James 5, we are urged to embrace patience amidst trials, much like a farmer awaiting harvest. James reminds us that our struggles are temporary and that the Lord's coming is imminent. This call to patience is not about passive waiting but about active trust in God's timing, drawing strength from the examples of the prophets who endured hardships with perseverance. The Gospel from Matthew 11 brings these themes together as John the Baptist, in prison, questions Jesus's identity. Jesus responds by pointing to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies through His miracles, confirming His role as the Messiah. He then praises John, highlighting his greatness yet noting that even the least in the kingdom surpasses him, emphasizing the transformative power of faith. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan, especially during uncertain times. Just as Isaiah foresaw restoration and James encouraged patience, we too can find strength in knowing that our trials are temporary. Let us embrace patience, trusting that God's promises will unfold in His time. Recognizing ourselves as part of God's kingdom, may we live with the assurance that even the smallest among us is great in His eyes.