Daily Readings - Sat Mar 09 2019
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true faith and how it should shape our actions and relationships. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a call to live out our faith through acts of justice and compassion. The prophet condemns empty religious practices, such as fasting, when they are not accompanied by care for the marginalized. He emphasizes that true fasting involves loosening the chains of oppression, feeding the hungry, and satisfying the afflicted. Isaiah also reminds us of the importance of observing the Sabbath as a day of rest and glorifying God, not as a day to pursue our own desires. This passage challenges us to examine whether our faith is merely a set of rituals or if it transforms how we live and interact with others.
In the Gospel, Luke presents us with a scene that illustrates Jesus’ mission to reach out to those on the fringes of society. Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, who was considered a sinner by the Pharisees. Instead of shunning Levi, Jesus shares a meal with him and other tax collectors and sinners. When criticized by the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus responds by saying that he has come not for the righteous but for sinners. This encounter reminds us that faith is not about isolating ourselves from those who are imperfect but about embracing them with love and compassion. Jesus’ actions show that true faith is about healing and restoring relationships, not about judging or excluding others.
These readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in our daily lives. Are we like the Pharisees, focusing on outward appearances and rules, or are we like Jesus, reaching out to those who need healing and love? Isaiah reminds us that our faith must be expressed in concrete actions that uplift the downtrodden and honor God. Let us ask ourselves: Do we use our resources to feed the hungry and care for the afflicted? Do we observe the Sabbath as a day to glorify God and find rest? And do we, like Jesus, embrace those who feel excluded or marginalized? May these readings inspire us to live out our faith with authenticity, compassion, and a commitment to justice.