Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2019
Isaiah
1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.3A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."6A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.7The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.8The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.11He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Matthew
12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
The readings today offer us a powerful message of hope, mercy, and the enduring love of God. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophet calling out to a people in exile, offering them comfort and assurance that their time of suffering is coming to an end. Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s glory being revealed and His Word standing eternal, even as human life is fleeting like grass and flowers. The prophet’s words are a reminder that no matter how dark our circumstances may seem, God is always near, ready to shepherd us with tenderness and strength.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. This story is not just about a shepherd’s dedication; it is about the heart of God. It tells us that each of us is precious to God, and He desires that none of us be lost. The parable challenges us to reflect on how we value and care for one another, especially those who feel forgotten or marginalized. Just as the shepherd rejoices over the one found sheep, God rejoices over every soul that returns to Him.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on God’s mercy and our responsibility to live as instruments of that mercy. Isaiah reminds us that God’s Word endures forever, and Jesus shows us that His love is personal and relentless. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate this love—whether by offering a kind word to someone feeling lost, praying for those who have wandered from the faith, or simply trusting in God’s promise to guide us through life’s uncertainties. Let us embrace the hope and comfort these readings offer, and let us strive to be bearers of God’s love to a world in need.