Daily Readings - Fri Dec 13 2024
Isaiah
17Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.18Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;19your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me."
Matthew
16"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,17"'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our response to His call. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that God is our Redeemer and Teacher, who guides us on the path of righteousness. The prophet laments that if only the people had listened to God’s commandments, they would have experienced peace and justice in abundance. Their descendants would have been countless, and their legacy would have endured. This passage speaks to the Israelites in exile, urging them to return to the Lord and trust in His plan for their restoration.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a different yet complementary perspective. Jesus compares the current generation to children in a marketplace, unable to decide whether to dance or mourn. He points out the hypocrisy of those who rejected John the Baptist for his austerity and then rejected Jesus for His openness and willingness to dine with sinners. Jesus’ critique highlights the tendency to judge others based on preconceived notions rather than seeking the truth. Yet, He assures us that wisdom is vindicated by those who embrace it.
These readings remind us that our response to God’s will is crucial. Isaiah calls us to heed God’s teachings and trust in His providence, while Matthew challenges us to embrace wisdom and not be swayed by the opinions of others. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices that test our faith and discernment. Let us strive to listen to God’s voice, even when it challenges us, and to trust in His wisdom. May we seek to follow His path, knowing that true peace and justice flow from living according to His will.