Daily Readings - Sat Mar 05 2022
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about living out our faith through compassion and humility. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that true fasting is not just about abstaining from food, but about breaking the chains of oppression, feeding the hungry, and satisfying the afflicted. Isaiah calls us to live in such a way that our light rises in darkness, and our actions bring life and hope to those around us. The prophet emphasizes that when we pour ourselves out for others, we find rest and splendor in God, and we become instruments of healing and restoration in a broken world.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the story of Jesus calling Levi, a tax collector, and dining with sinners. This act of inclusion shocks the Pharisees and scribes, who question why Jesus would associate with those they deem unworthy. Jesus responds by saying that he has come not for the righteous, but for sinners. This exchange challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes toward others. Are we like the Pharisees, quick to judge and exclude, or are we like Jesus, who sees the potential for repentance and new life in everyone? Jesus’ actions remind us that the Kingdom of God is not about separation but about reconciliation and mercy.
These readings invite us to examine our lives and relationships. How often do we, like the Pharisees, look down on others or keep ourselves apart? How often do we, like Isaiah, pour ourselves out for those in need? Jesus shows us that true holiness is not about appearances or rules but about reaching out to the margins, embracing the outcast, and living with compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone to love and serve others? Am I open to seeing the goodness in those society may label as sinners? May we follow Jesus’ example, becoming repairers of brokenness and bringers of light to a world in need.