Daily Readings - Mon Dec 11 2017
Isaiah
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;2it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.4Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;6then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.8And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Luke
17On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.18And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,19but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.20And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"22When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts?23Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home."25And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.26And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives of healing and redemption, reminding us of God's transformative power in our lives. The passage from Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a barren land blossoming into life, symbolizing the spiritual renewal of God's people. It speaks of the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the lame leaping, illustrating a world restored to wholeness through God's grace. This vision of restoration is not just physical but deeply spiritual, offering hope to those in exile and despair.
In the Gospel of Luke, we witness Jesus' authority to forgive sins and heal the paralytic man. This miracle underscores the unity of spiritual and physical healing, as Jesus first forgives the man's sins and then heals his body. The faith of the paralytic's friends, who went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus, teaches us about the power of trust and perseverance in seeking God's help. Their actions remind us that our faith can be a source of healing for others.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Just as the desolate land in Isaiah and the paralytic in Luke experienced transformation, we too can trust in God's power to heal our brokenness. Whether we are dealing with emotional, spiritual, or physical challenges, we are called to approach God with faith, knowing that He desires our wholeness. Let us, like the friends of the paralytic, bring our needs and those of others to Jesus, confident in His mercy and love. May we walk in the hope of restoration, trusting that God's grace can bring light and life to even the darkest places.