Daily Readings - Sat Dec 04 2021
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, healing, and mission. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a restored Zion, where God’s people live in abundance and peace. The prophet describes a time when the Lord will provide for all needs, both physical and spiritual, and when His people will no longer suffer but instead flourish under His care. This vision is not just a distant promise but a call to trust in God’s providence and to remain faithful even in times of hardship.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who embodies this divine compassion and care. Jesus travels through cities and towns, teaching, preaching, and healing, moved by the sight of people who are “distressed and lying like sheep without a shepherd.” His response is not only to meet their physical needs but also to address their spiritual hunger. Recognizing the vastness of the need, Jesus calls his disciples to join him in this mission, sending them out to preach, heal, and bring hope to those who have wandered away from God. This passage reminds us that we, too, are called to be instruments of God’s healing and love in the world.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s vision of restoration finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who inaugurates the kingdom of heaven through his ministry. Just as God promised to send teachers and healers to his people, Jesus sends his disciples—and by extension, us—to continue his work. The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to trust in God’s plan, to be compassionate as Christ is compassionate, and to step out in faith to serve others. In our daily lives, this means looking for opportunities to bring light, hope, and healing to those around us, whether through a kind word, a listening ear, or a helping hand. Let us embrace this mission with joy, remembering that we do not labor alone but are accompanied by the Lord, who multiplies our efforts and brings fruit to our work.