Daily Readings - Wed Dec 15 2021
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 journey from the Old Testament's declaration of God's sovereignty to the New Testament's fulfillment of His plan in Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah proclaims God's uniqueness and omnipotence, emphasizing that He alone is the creator and savior, calling all to turn to Him for salvation. This declaration is a reminder to Israel, amidst their trials, of God's enduring plan and power.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find John the Baptist, uncertain and doubting Jesus' identity as the Messiah. Jesus responds not with words of reassurance but through actions—miracles that demonstrate His divine authority. He heals the sick, restores sight to the blind, and preaches to the poor, fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah. Jesus' response is an invitation to trust in God's plan, even when clarity is elusive.
These readings encourage us to embrace faith amidst uncertainty. Just as John faced doubt, we too may question God's presence in our lives. Yet, the readings remind us to seek signs of God's work around us and to trust in His unfolding plan. Let us recognize God's sovereignty and find comfort in knowing His plan is always at work, even when we cannot fully see it. May we trust in His divine plan and remain open to His work in our lives.