Daily Readings - Sat Dec 05 2020
Isaiah
19For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.20And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.21And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.23And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your livestock will graze in large pastures,24and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork.25And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.26Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.
Matthew
35And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
1And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.5These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Sermon
The readings today offer us a vision of hope and healing, intertwined with a call to mission. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a time when God’s people will be restored, their suffering will end, and they will live in abundance and peace. The prophet paints a vivid picture of a world transformed, where the light of the moon and sun will shine brightly, symbolizing the fullness of God’s presence and healing. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s promise of renewal and restoration is always before us. It is a message of trust in God’s plan and timing.
In the Gospel, Matthew shows us Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds who are “distressed and lying like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus sees the great need around him and responds by sending out his disciples to continue his work of healing and proclamation. This passage challenges us to see the world through the eyes of Christ—eyes that see the brokenness and the potential for transformation. Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to “go and preach” reminds us that we, too, are called to be laborers in God’s harvest. We are invited to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide the grace and strength we need to serve others.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about waiting for God’s future promises; it is also about participating in his work here and now. Like the disciples, we are called to be instruments of healing and hope in a world that often feels lost and without direction. Let us ask ourselves: How can we respond to Jesus’ call today? How can we share his love and light with those around us? May we trust in God’s plan, embrace our mission, and walk in faith, knowing that he is always with us, guiding and sustaining us.