Daily Readings - Mon Dec 10 2018
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a vivid description of a desolate land being restored to life and beauty. The prophet speaks of a time when the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the lame will leap with joy. This vision is not just about physical healing but also about spiritual renewal. It is a promise of hope for a people in exile, assuring them that God will bring them back to a place of abundance and joy. The imagery of the desert blooming and the creation of a holy path underscores God’s ability to bring life out of barrenness and order out of chaos.
In the Gospel, we see this promise fulfilled in Jesus. Luke’s account of the paralyzed man being lowered through the roof by his friends is a powerful story of faith and healing. The man’s physical paralysis is a symbol of the spiritual paralysis that can afflict us all—sin. Jesus, seeing the man’s faith, forgives his sins first, addressing the deeper need before healing his body. This demonstrates that true healing is not just physical but also spiritual. The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized by Jesus’ claim to forgive sins, but Jesus proves His authority by healing the man, leaving no doubt that He is the Son of Man with the power to forgive and restore.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about waiting for a future promise but about experiencing God’s transformative power in the present. Like the friends of the paralyzed man, we are called to bring others to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal and forgive. In our own lives, we may feel stuck in spiritual or emotional deserts, but God promises to bring life and joy even in the most barren places. Let us ask for the courage to trust in His plan and to seek His healing, knowing that He desires to restore us completely—body, mind, and spirit.