Daily Readings - Sat Dec 07 2024
Isaiah
19For the people of Zion will live in Jerusalem. Bitterly, you will not weep. Mercifully, he will take pity on you. At the voice of your outcry, as soon as he hears, he will respond to you20And the Lord will give you thick bread and accessible water. And he will not cause your teacher to fly away from you anymore. And your eyes will behold your instructor21And your ears will listen to the word of one admonishing you behind your back: "This is the way! Walk in it! And do not turn aside, neither to the right, nor to the left.23And wherever you sow seed upon the earth, rain will be given to the seed. And bread from the grain of the earth will be very plentiful and full. In that day, the lamb will pasture in the spacious land of your possession24And your bulls, and the colts of the donkeys that work the ground, will eat a mix of grains like that winnowed on the threshing floor25And there will be, on every lofty mountain, and on every elevated hill, rivers of running water, in the day of the slaughter of many, when the tower will fall26And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord will bind the wound of his people, and when he will heal the stroke of their scourge
Matthew
35And Jesus traveled throughout all of the cities and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every illness and every infirmity36Then, seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them, because they were distressed and were reclining, like sheep without a shepherd37Then he said to his disciples: "The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few38Therefore, petition the Lord of the harvest, so that he may sent out laborers to his harvest.
1And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity5Jesus sent these twelve, instructing them, saying: "Do not travel by the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into the city of the Samaritans6but instead go to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel7And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.8Cure the infirm, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have received freely, so give freely
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound messages of hope, compassion, and mission. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a restored Jerusalem, where God's people live in peace and prosperity, guided by His wisdom. This vision is not just a distant dream but a promise of renewal and healing, where the land is fertile, and the people are led by compassionate teachers. Isaiah's words remind us of God's enduring love and His plan to restore all things.
In the Gospel, Jesus embodies this divine compassion. As He travels through the cities and towns, He sees the crowds as sheep without a shepherd—vulnerable and in need of guidance. Moved by their distress, He calls on His disciples to pray for more laborers to join in the harvest of souls. Jesus then empowers His disciples, sending them out to preach, heal, and bring hope to those who have wandered away. This mission is not just for the disciples of old; it is a call to each of us to share in the work of bringing God's love to a world in need.
These readings invite us to reflect on our role in God's plan. Just as Isaiah looked forward to a time of restoration and Jesus called His disciples to action, we too are called to be instruments of healing and hope. In our daily lives, we can embody this mission by offering a listening ear, a comforting word, or a helping hand. Let us pray for the grace to see the needs of those around us and to respond with the same compassion and courage that Jesus showed. May we trust in God's plan and be faithful laborers in His harvest, bringing light and love to a world that so desperately needs it.