Daily Readings - Tue Dec 06 2022
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
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, redemption, and God's enduring love. The first reading from Isaiah offers a vision of consolation and transformation. The prophet speaks to a people in exile, promising that their suffering will end and that God's glory will be revealed. He uses vivid imagery—valleys being lifted and mountains lowered—to convey that God will prepare a way for His people, ensuring a smooth path for their return. Isaiah also reminds us of the transient nature of human life, likening it to grass and flowers that wither, but contrasts this with the eternal Word of God, which endures forever.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this message with the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus teaches that the shepherd, representing God, goes to great lengths to find the one lost sheep, rejoicing more over its return than over the ninety-nine that remained safe. This emphasizes God's deep care for each individual, especially those who feel lost or marginalized. Together, the readings highlight God's active role in seeking and saving His people, whether through the prophetic call to prepare the way or the shepherd's relentless pursuit of the lost.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan and to reflect His compassionate heart. Just as Isaiah called the people to hope and preparation, we are urged to trust in God's promises, even in uncertain times. Like the shepherd, we are called to reach out to those around us who may feel lost or forgotten, embodying God's mercy and love. The moral lesson here is clear: God's love is both eternal and personal, and we are all called to participate in His work of redemption and care. Let us, therefore, open our hearts to His Word and allow His Spirit to guide us in living out His love in the world.