Daily Readings - Mon Dec 11 2023
Isaiah
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;2it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.4Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;6then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.8And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Luke
17On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.18And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,19but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.20And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"22When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts?23Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home."25And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.26And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful visions of healing and redemption. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a desolate land transformed into a place of beauty and life, where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk. This is not just a physical transformation but a spiritual one, where God’s presence brings joy and liberation. The Gospel from Luke brings this vision to life in the story of the paralytic man, whose friends’ unwavering faith leads Jesus to forgive his sins and restore his bodily health. Both readings remind us that God’s power is not limited to the physical realm but extends to the deepest recesses of the human heart.
The context of these readings is rooted in hope and trust. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks to a people in exile, longing for restoration and renewal. Luke’s account, set in the early days of Jesus’ ministry, challenges the Pharisees’ rigid understanding of God’s authority. Both passages emphasize that true healing comes from trusting in God’s plan and His ability to transform even the most broken situations. The paralytic’s friends, determined to bring him to Jesus despite the obstacles, teach us the value of perseverance and faith in the face of adversity.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we approach our own challenges and struggles. Like the paralytic and his friends, we are called to trust in God’s power to heal and redeem. This is not just about physical healing but about the spiritual transformation that comes from encountering Christ. In our daily lives, we can apply this by seeking God’s presence in our struggles, trusting in His plan, and persevering in faith. The moral lesson here is clear: God’s healing power is available to all, but it requires us to open our hearts and minds to His grace. Let us, like the paralytic, rise up and walk in the freedom and joy that only God can provide.