Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2024
Isaiah
1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.3A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."6A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.7The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.8The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.11He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Matthew
12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and care for each of us, as well as His desire to bring all people into His fold. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear words of comfort and hope: "Be consoled, be consoled, O my people!" These words were spoken to the Israelites in exile, offering them hope of return and redemption. The prophet describes the voice crying out in the desert, preparing the way for the Lord, and reminds us that while human life and achievements are fleeting, the Word of the Lord endures forever. Isaiah’s message is one of trust in God’s plan and His promise to care for His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the lost sheep to teach us about God’s love and concern for each individual. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one that has gone astray, and when he finds it, he rejoices more over that one than over the others. This parable emphasizes that God does not want any of His children to be lost. It also challenges us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Are we like the shepherd, willing to go out of our way to care for those who are lost or in need? Or are we content to remain with the familiar and the comfortable?
These readings remind us that our God is a God of infinite love and compassion. He knows each of us personally and desires to bring us all into His kingdom. As we go about our daily lives, let us take a moment to reflect on where we might be "lost" or where others might be in need of guidance and support. Let us also remember that we are called to be like the shepherd, to reach out to others with love and care, and to trust in God’s plan for our lives. May we always find joy in the knowledge that we are loved and cherished by our Heavenly Father, and may we strive to share that love with others.