Daily Readings - Fri Dec 06 2024
Isaiah
17In not more than a little while and a brief time, Lebanon will be turned into a fruitful field, and a fruitful field will be considered to be a forest18And in that day, the deaf will hear the words of a book, and out of darkness and obscurity the eyes of the blind will see19And the meek will increase their rejoicing in the Lord, and the poor among men will exult in the Holy One of Israel20For the one who was prevailing has failed, the one who was mocking has been consumed, and all those who were standing guard over iniquity have been cut down21For they caused men to sin by a word, and they supplanted him who argued against them at the gates, and they turned away from justice in vain22Because of this, thus says the Lord, he who has redeemed Abraham, to the house of Jacob: From now on, Jacob will not be confounded; from now on his countenance will not blush with shame23Instead, when he sees his children, they will be the work of my hands in his midst, sanctifying my name, and they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and they will preach the God of Israel24And those who had gone astray in spirit will know understanding, and those who had murmured will learn the law
Matthew
27And as Jesus passed from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, "Take pity on us, Son of David.28And when he had arrived at the house, the blind men approached him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you trust that I am able to do this for you?" They say to him, "Certainly, Lord.29Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith, so let it be done for you.30And their eyes were opened. And Jesus warned them, saying, "See to it that no one knows of this.31But going out, they spread the news of it to all that land
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope and healing. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future where the deaf will hear and the blind will see, a time when God's justice and redemption will be fully realized. This passage was written during a time of great turmoil for the Israelites, offering them hope that their suffering would end and that God would restore them. The prophet emphasizes that even in darkness, God's light will prevail, and the meek and the poor will find joy in Him.
The Gospel from Matthew brings this hope to life through the story of Jesus healing two blind men. These men, in their desperation, cried out to Jesus, recognizing Him as the "Son of David," a title rich with messianic significance. Jesus' question to them, "Do you believe I can do this?" invites them to express their faith. Their affirmative response leads to their healing, and though Jesus asks them to keep the miracle quiet, they cannot help but spread the news of God's mercy. This story highlights the importance of faith and trust in God's power to transform our lives.
These readings remind us that faith is not just about believing in something we cannot see, but about trusting in God's plan and timing. Just as the blind men trusted Jesus enough to follow Him and seek healing, we too are called to trust in God's presence in our lives, even when we cannot see the way ahead. In our daily struggles, we can draw strength from these stories, knowing that God is always near, ready to bring light and healing into our darkness. Let us, like the blind men, approach Him with faith and humility, and let His grace transform us.