Daily Readings - Sat Dec 03 2022
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 providence and mission. The first, from Isaiah, paints a vivid picture of a restored Zion, where the people live in Jerusalem free from sorrow, with the Lord providing abundantly. The second reading, from Matthew, depicts Jesus ministering to the crowds with compassion, recognizing their need for guidance, and then commissioning His disciples to continue His healing and teaching work.
Isaiah's prophecy is set against the backdrop of a people awaiting deliverance, yearning for a time when their hardships will end and God's blessings will flow freely. This vision of restoration is not just about physical abundance but also spiritual renewal, where the people are guided by God's wisdom. In Matthew, Jesus embodies this divine compassion, healing the sick and preaching the Good News. Seeing the crowds as sheep without a shepherd, He calls His disciples to be laborers in God's harvest, entrusted with spreading the message of the kingdom.
These readings intertwine beautifully, highlighting God's enduring care and the call to serve. Isaiah's promise of restoration finds its fulfillment in Jesus' ministry and the mission of His disciples. Both readings remind us of our role as modern-day disciples, called to trust in God's provision and to serve others with compassion. Just as the disciples were sent to heal and preach, we too are called to bring God's light into the world.
In our daily lives, this means embracing trust in God's plan, even amidst challenges, and recognizing the needs of those around us. We are invited to be laborers in God's harvest, sharing His love and care freely, just as we have received it. Let us strive to be instruments of healing and hope, reflecting the abundant grace and restoration promised by God.