Daily Readings - Sat Feb 20 2021
Isaiah
9Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,10if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.11And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.12And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.13"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;14then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Luke
27After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me."28And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"31And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the essence of living a life rooted in faith and compassion. In Isaiah, we hear a call to true fasting, which is not merely about abstaining from food but about embracing justice and kindness. The prophet urges us to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and free the oppressed, promising that such actions will bring light and renewal. This passage emphasizes that our faith should manifest in selfless service, transforming our lives and the world around us.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus' encounter with Levi, a tax collector, who, upon being called, leaves everything to follow Him. Levi then hosts a feast for Jesus, attended by tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees' criticism of Jesus for dining with outcasts is met with His profound response: He came not for the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance. This narrative illustrates Jesus' mission of reaching out to those on the margins, embodying the compassion and justice Isaiah spoke of.
These readings connect through their emphasis on living out our faith. Isaiah's call to justice and Jesus' inclusive table fellowship remind us that our faith must be active and transformative. We are called to move beyond rituals and instead engage in acts of love and service. In our daily lives, this means reaching out to those in need, just as Jesus did. Let us strive to live with such compassion, that our actions may reflect the light and hope of the Gospel.