Daily Readings - Fri Dec 16 2022
Isaiah
1Thus says the Lord: Preserve judgment, and accomplish justice. For my salvation is close to its arrival, and my justice is close to being revealed2Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds to this, keeping the Sabbath and not profaning it, guarding his hands and not doing any evil3And let not the son of the new arrival, who adheres to the Lord, speak, saying, "The Lord will divide and separate me from his people." And let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree.6And the sons of the new arrival, who adhere to the Lord so as to worship him and to love his name, shall be his servants: all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it, and who hold to my covenant7I will lead them to my holy mountain, and I will gladden them in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their victims will be pleasing to me upon my altar. For my house will be called the house of prayer for all peoples8The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, says: Even now, I will gather his congregation to him
John
16Because of this, the Jews were persecuting Jesus, for he was doing these things on the Sabbath17But Jesus answered them, "Even now, my Father is working, and I am working.33You sent to John, and he offered testimony to the truth34But I do not accept testimony from man. Instead, I say these things, so that you may be saved35He was a burning and shining light. So you were willing, at the time, to exult in his light36But I hold a greater testimony than that of John. For the works which the Father has given to me, so that I may complete them, these works themselves that I do, offer testimony about me: that the Father has sent me
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of inclusion, justice, and the ongoing work of God. The first reading from Isaiah speaks to a community returning from exile, urging them to live justly and to remember that God’s house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah emphasizes that no one should feel excluded from God’s people—neither the foreigner nor the eunuch—because God’s covenant is open to all who keep the Sabbath and hold fast to His covenant. This vision of an inclusive community challenges the Israelites to move beyond their narrow understandings of who belongs.
In the Gospel, Jesus defends His work on the Sabbath, explaining that His Father is always working, and so is He. Jesus references John the Baptist as a witness to the truth, but He also points to His own works as testimony to His divine mission. This exchange highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, who were scandalized by His actions. Yet, Jesus’ words invite us to see beyond the strictures of human tradition and to recognize the active presence of God in the world.
These readings remind us that our faith is not confined to narrow rules or boundaries. Like Isaiah’s vision of an inclusive community, and like Jesus’ insistence that God’s work knows no rest, we are called to live in a way that reflects God’s justice, mercy, and love. In our daily lives, this means embracing those who feel excluded, standing up for what is right, and recognizing that God is always at work—even in unexpected ways. Let us open our hearts to the breadth of God’s vision and allow His Spirit to guide us in living as His people.