Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2024
Isaiah
1"Be consoled, be consoled, O my people!" says your God2Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call out to her! For her malice has reached its end. Her iniquity has been forgiven. She has received double for all her sins from the hand of the Lord3The voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight the paths of our God, in a solitary place4Every valley will be exalted, and every mountain and hill will be brought low. And the crooked will be straightened, and the uneven will become level ways5And the glory of the Lord will be revealed. And all flesh together will see that the mouth of the Lord has spoken.6The voice of one saying, "Cry out!" And I said, "What should I cry out?" "All flesh is grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field7The grass has dried up, and the flower has fallen. For the Spirit of the Lord has blown over it. Truly, the people are like grass8The grass has dried up, and the flower has fallen. But the Word of our Lord remains for eternity.9You who evangelize Zion, climb a high mountain! You who evangelize Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah: "Behold, your God!10Behold, the Lord God will arrive in strength, and his arm will rule. Behold, his reward is with him, and his work is before him11He will pasture his flock like a shepherd. He will gather together the lambs with his arm, and he will lift them up to his bosom, and he himself will carry the very young
Matthew
12How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray13And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray14Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and care for each of us, as well as His desire to bring all people into His fold. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear words of comfort and hope: "Be consoled, be consoled, O my people!" These words were spoken to the Israelites in exile, offering them hope of return and redemption. The prophet describes the voice crying out in the desert, preparing the way for the Lord, and reminds us that while human life and achievements are fleeting, the Word of the Lord endures forever. Isaiah’s message is one of trust in God’s plan and His promise to care for His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the lost sheep to teach us about God’s love and concern for each individual. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one that has gone astray, and when he finds it, he rejoices more over that one than over the others. This parable emphasizes that God does not want any of His children to be lost. It also challenges us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Are we like the shepherd, willing to go out of our way to care for those who are lost or in need? Or are we content to remain with the familiar and the comfortable?
These readings remind us that our God is a God of infinite love and compassion. He knows each of us personally and desires to bring us all into His kingdom. As we go about our daily lives, let us take a moment to reflect on where we might be "lost" or where others might be in need of guidance and support. Let us also remember that we are called to be like the shepherd, to reach out to others with love and care, and to trust in God’s plan for our lives. May we always find joy in the knowledge that we are loved and cherished by our Heavenly Father, and may we strive to share that love with others.