Daily Readings - Sat Feb 17 2018
Isaiah
9Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,10if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.11And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.12And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.13"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;14then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Luke
27After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me."28And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"31And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful calls to live out our faith in action. The first reading from Isaiah challenges us to move beyond superficial religious practices and instead embrace a life of justice and compassion. The prophet condemns empty fasting and points to the true fast: setting free the oppressed, feeding the hungry, and caring for the afflicted. He promises that when we live in such a way, our light will shine in darkness, and we will find true rest and renewal in God. The passage also emphasizes the importance of keeping the Sabbath as a day of delight and glorifying God by not pursuing our own interests.
In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrates this very way of living. He calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him, and Levi responds by leaving everything behind. Jesus then shares a meal with Levi and other tax collectors and sinners, prompting criticism from the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus defends his actions by saying that he has come not for the righteous but for sinners, to call them to repentance. This exchange highlights Jesus’ mission to reach out to those on the margins and to bring healing and forgiveness to those who recognize their need for it.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s call to justice and compassion is fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry of mercy and inclusion. Both readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in tangible ways. We are called to move beyond mere religious rituals and instead to love and serve others, especially those who are marginalized or struggling. In our daily lives, this means being attentive to the needs of those around us, advocating for justice, and reaching out with compassion, just as Jesus did. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not just about what we believe but about how we live. By living in this way, we not only reflect God’s love but also find true fulfillment and joy.