Daily Readings - Wed Dec 09 2020
Isaiah
25To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.27Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"?28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.29He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Sermon
The first reading from Isaiah invites us to reflect on God’s majesty and power as Creator. The prophet challenges us to recognize that no one can compare to the Holy One, who has created the heavens and governs all things with strength and wisdom. Isaiah reminds the people of Israel, and us, not to lose faith even when we feel forgotten or when our struggles seem endless. He assures us that God does not grow weary, and though we may falter, those who hope in the Lord will find new strength, like eagles soaring high. This passage is a call to trust in God’s providence and to remember that our strength comes from Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a similar invitation to trust and hope. He says, “Come to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh you.” These words are a promise of rest and renewal for those who are weary. Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us, not because it is easy, but because His yoke is “sweet” and His burden is “light.” This doesn’t mean our struggles will disappear, but it does mean that when we yoke ourselves to Him, we will find the strength to carry our burdens with grace and peace. Jesus’ words are a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles; He walks with us and shares our load.
Both readings remind us to trust in God’s strength and to seek comfort in Him. In a world that often feels overwhelming, it’s easy to lose heart or to think that God has forgotten us. But Isaiah and Jesus both assure us that God is near, and His power is available to us. In our daily lives, when we feel weary or burdened, we can turn to God in prayer, asking for the grace to persevere. Let us learn to yoke ourselves to Jesus, trusting that His strength will sustain us and that His peace will refresh our souls.