Daily Readings - Sat Dec 05 2020
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
The readings today offer us a vision of hope and healing, intertwined with a call to mission. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a time when God’s people will be restored, their suffering will end, and they will live in abundance and peace. The prophet paints a vivid picture of a world transformed, where the light of the moon and sun will shine brightly, symbolizing the fullness of God’s presence and healing. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s promise of renewal and restoration is always before us. It is a message of trust in God’s plan and timing.
In the Gospel, Matthew shows us Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds who are “distressed and lying like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus sees the great need around him and responds by sending out his disciples to continue his work of healing and proclamation. This passage challenges us to see the world through the eyes of Christ—eyes that see the brokenness and the potential for transformation. Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to “go and preach” reminds us that we, too, are called to be laborers in God’s harvest. We are invited to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide the grace and strength we need to serve others.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about waiting for God’s future promises; it is also about participating in his work here and now. Like the disciples, we are called to be instruments of healing and hope in a world that often feels lost and without direction. Let us ask ourselves: How can we respond to Jesus’ call today? How can we share his love and light with those around us? May we trust in God’s plan, embrace our mission, and walk in faith, knowing that he is always with us, guiding and sustaining us.