Daily Readings - Sat Feb 17 2024
Isaiah
9Then you will call, and the Lord will heed; you will cry out, and he will say, "Here I am," if you take away the chains from your midst, and cease to point your finger and to speak what is not beneficial10When you pour out your life for the hungry, and you satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise up in darkness, and your darkness will be like the midday11And the Lord will give you rest continually, and he will fill your soul with splendor, and he will free your bones, and you will be like a watered garden and like a fountain of water whose waters will not fail12And places that have been desolate for ages will be built up by you. You will raise a foundation for generation after generation. And you will be called the repairer of hedges, who turns the roadways into quiet places13If you restrain your foot on the Sabbath, from doing your own will on my holy day, and if you call the Sabbath delightful, and the Holy of the Lord glorious, and if you glorify him, while you do not act according to your own ways, and your own will is not found, not even to speak a word14then you will find delight in the Lord, and I will take you up, above the heights of the earth, and I will nourish you with the inheritance of Jacob, your father. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken
Luke
27And after these things, he went out, and he saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the customs office. And he said to him, "Follow me.28And leaving behind everything, rising up, he followed him29And Levi made a great feast for him in his own house. And there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others, who were sitting at table with them30But the Pharisees and scribes were murmuring, saying to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?31And responding, Jesus said to them: "It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who have maladies32I have not come to call the just, but sinners to repentance.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound call to live out our faith through compassionate action and humility. The passage from Isaiah challenges us to move beyond superficial religious practices and instead embrace a life of justice and mercy. True fasting, Isaiah tells us, is not just about abstaining from food but about loosening the chains of oppression, feeding the hungry, and caring for the afflicted. This prophet’s words are a stark reminder that our relationship with God is deeply tied to how we treat others, especially those on the margins.
The Gospel reading from Luke complements this message as Jesus reaches out to Levi, a tax collector, and dines with sinners. The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized by this, but Jesus responds by emphasizing that he has come not for the righteous but for sinners. This encounter highlights Jesus’ mission to bring healing and reconciliation to those who feel excluded or unworthy. Like Levi, we are all called to follow Jesus, leaving behind our old ways and embracing a life of transformation and service.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Are we more like the Pharisees, focused on appearances and judgment, or are we willing to follow Jesus’ example by reaching out to those who feel excluded? Let us ask ourselves: How can we loosen the chains of oppression in our own lives and communities? How can we feed the hungry, both physically and spiritually? By answering these questions with compassion and humility, we can find true delight in the Lord and live as instruments of his healing and reconciliation in the world.