Daily Readings - Thu Dec 10 2020
Isaiah
13For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."14Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.15Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff;16you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.18I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.19I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together,20that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Matthew
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.12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, transformation, and the fulfillment of God's promises. The first reading from Isaiah speaks to the Israelites during their exile, offering them hope of restoration. Isaiah uses vivid imagery—a desert blooming into pools of water—to illustrate God's transformative power. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest times, God is always present, ready to redeem and renew us. It calls us to trust in His power and not be afraid, for He is our Redeemer.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to John the Baptist, whom Jesus praises as the greatest among those born of women. Yet, Jesus also notes that even the least in the kingdom is greater than John, signaling the transition from the era of prophecy to the era of the kingdom. John, as the last prophet, bridges the Old and New Covenants, fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah's return. Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom is not for the passive but for those who actively seek it, enduring violence and perseverance.
These readings connect through the theme of transformation and fulfillment. Isaiah's vision of a renewed land mirrors the spiritual renewal offered through the kingdom of heaven. Just as God transforms the desert, He transforms our hearts. The moral lesson here is one of trust and active faith. We are called to trust in God's plan, even in uncertainty, and to strive for the kingdom with perseverance. Let us embrace this hope and actively live out our faith, seeking the kingdom with courage and determination.