Daily Readings - Wed Dec 16 2020
Isaiah
6that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.7I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.8"Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.18For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.21Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.22"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.23By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'24"Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.25In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory."
Luke
19calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"20And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'"21In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.22And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.23And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful reminders of God’s sovereignty and the call to trust in His plan. The first reading from Isaiah proclaims God’s uniqueness as the Creator of all things, who forms light and darkness, peace and woe. Isaiah emphasizes that God did not create the world in vain but for a purpose, and He alone is the just Savior. The prophet calls all ends of the earth to turn to God, promising salvation and justice for those who do so. This passage, written during the Babylonian exile, reassures the people of Israel that despite their current suffering, God remains in control and will fulfill His promises.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents a moment of doubt and questioning. John the Baptist, though a man of great faith, sends his disciples to Jesus with the question, “Are you he who is to come, or should we wait for another?” Jesus responds not with words of reassurance but with deeds. He heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, and preaches the Good News to the poor. By doing so, Jesus points to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies and confirms His identity as the Messiah. His final words, “Blessed is anyone who has not taken offense at me,” invite us to embrace faith even when doubts arise.
These readings remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear. Like John’s disciples, we may sometimes question whether God is truly at work in our lives or in the world. Yet, Jesus calls us to look at the signs of His presence—the healing, the hope, and the love that surround us—and to trust in His goodness. In our daily lives, let us seek to recognize God’s hand at work, even in the midst of challenges, and to place our faith in Him, knowing that He is our just and merciful Savior.