Daily Readings - Sun Dec 15 2019

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;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.

James

Chapter 5

⁷Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.⁸You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.⁹Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.¹⁰As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Matthew

Chapter 11

²Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples³and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"⁴And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:⁵the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.⁶And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."⁷As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?⁸What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.⁹What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.¹⁰This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'¹¹Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter a harmonious blend of prophecy, encouragement, and revelation, each guiding us toward a deeper understanding of faith and patience. The first reading from Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a restored world where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame leap, symbolizing the messianic era of salvation. This prophecy, born from a time of exile and despair, offers hope of a future where God's glory will be fully revealed. In the second reading, James 5, we are urged to embrace patience amidst trials, much like a farmer awaiting harvest. James reminds us that our struggles are temporary and that the Lord's coming is imminent. This call to patience is not about passive waiting but about active trust in God's timing, drawing strength from the examples of the prophets who endured hardships with perseverance. The Gospel from Matthew 11 brings these themes together as John the Baptist, in prison, questions Jesus's identity. Jesus responds by pointing to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies through His miracles, confirming His role as the Messiah. He then praises John, highlighting his greatness yet noting that even the least in the kingdom surpasses him, emphasizing the transformative power of faith. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan, especially during uncertain times. Just as Isaiah foresaw restoration and James encouraged patience, we too can find strength in knowing that our trials are temporary. Let us embrace patience, trusting that God's promises will unfold in His time. Recognizing ourselves as part of God's kingdom, may we live with the assurance that even the smallest among us is great in His eyes.