Daily Readings - Fri Dec 16 2022
Isaiah
1Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.2Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."3Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree."6"And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant--7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."8The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, "I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered."
John
16And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.17But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."33You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.34Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.35He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.36But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of inclusion, justice, and the ongoing work of God. The first reading from Isaiah speaks to a community returning from exile, urging them to live justly and to remember that God’s house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah emphasizes that no one should feel excluded from God’s people—neither the foreigner nor the eunuch—because God’s covenant is open to all who keep the Sabbath and hold fast to His covenant. This vision of an inclusive community challenges the Israelites to move beyond their narrow understandings of who belongs.
In the Gospel, Jesus defends His work on the Sabbath, explaining that His Father is always working, and so is He. Jesus references John the Baptist as a witness to the truth, but He also points to His own works as testimony to His divine mission. This exchange highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, who were scandalized by His actions. Yet, Jesus’ words invite us to see beyond the strictures of human tradition and to recognize the active presence of God in the world.
These readings remind us that our faith is not confined to narrow rules or boundaries. Like Isaiah’s vision of an inclusive community, and like Jesus’ insistence that God’s work knows no rest, we are called to live in a way that reflects God’s justice, mercy, and love. In our daily lives, this means embracing those who feel excluded, standing up for what is right, and recognizing that God is always at work—even in unexpected ways. Let us open our hearts to the breadth of God’s vision and allow His Spirit to guide us in living as His people.