Daily Readings - Thu Dec 15 2022
Isaiah
1Give praise, you who are barren and unable to conceive. Sing praise and make a joyful noise, you who have not given birth. For many are the children of the desolate, more so than of her who has a husband, says the Lord2Enlarge the place of your tent and extend the skins of your tabernacles, unsparingly. Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes3For you shall extend to the right and to the left. And your offspring shall inherit the nations, and you shall inhabit the desolate cities4Do not be afraid! For you will not be confounded, and you will not blush. And you will not be put to shame, because you shall forget the confusion of your youth, and you shall no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood5For the One who made you will rule over you. The Lord of hosts is his name. And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, will be called the God of all the earth6For the Lord has called you, like a woman forsaken and mourning in spirit, and like a wife rejected in her youth, said your God7For a brief moment, I have forsaken you, and with great pities, I will gather you8In a moment of indignation, I have hidden my face from you, for a little while. But with everlasting mercy, I have taken pity on you, said your Redeemer, the Lord9For me, it is just as in the days of Noah, to whom I swore that I would no longer bring in the waters of Noah over the earth. Thus have I sworn not to be angry with you, and not to rebuke you10For the mountains will be moved, and the hills will tremble. But my mercy will not depart from you, and the covenant of my peace will not be shaken, said the Lord, who has compassion on you
Luke
24And when the messengers of John had withdrawn, he began to speak about John to the crowds. "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind25Then what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who are in costly apparel and finery are in the houses of kings26Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Certainly, I tell you, and more than a prophet27This is he of whom it is written: "Behold, I send my Angel before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.28For I say to you, among those born of women, no one is greater than the prophet John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.29And upon hearing this, all the people and the tax collectors justified God, by being baptized with the baptism of John30But the Pharisees and the experts in the law despised the counsel of God concerning themselves, by not being baptized by him
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on hope, trust, and the surprising ways God works in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a message of consolation and restoration. The prophet speaks to a people in exile, feeling abandoned and barren, but he assures them that God will not only restore them but also bless them abundantly. The imagery of the tent being enlarged and the desolate cities being inhabited signifies God’s faithfulness and the promise of new life. This passage reminds us that even in times of despair, God’s mercy and love are always at work, preparing a future filled with hope.
In the Gospel, Jesus praises John the Baptist as a prophet and more than a prophet, for he is the one who prepares the way for the Lord. Jesus emphasizes that John’s role is not just to point to himself but to point to the One who is to come. This teaches us about humility and trust in God’s plan. John’s humility and faithfulness in his mission are a model for us. The Pharisees and scholars of the law, however, reject John’s message, showing us the danger of pride and hardness of heart. Jesus reminds us that even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John, not because of their own merits, but because they have accepted the grace of God’s kingdom.
These readings call us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear or difficult. Like the exiles in Isaiah, we may feel barren or forsaken at times, but God is always working to bring new life and hope. Like John the Baptist, we are called to be faithful in our mission, pointing others to Christ with humility and joy. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s mercy, to embrace humility, and to open our hearts to the surprises of His kingdom. May we, like the tax collectors and the people in the Gospel, justify God by embracing His plan and living with faith and gratitude.