Daily Readings - Sat Dec 09 2017
First Reading - Isaiah 30.19-21, 23-26
Isaiah
19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.20And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:21And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.23Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.24The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.25And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.26Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
Gospel - Matthew 9.35 – 10.1, 5a, 6-8
Matthew
35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, compassion, and mission. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future filled with abundance and healing, where God's people will live in Jerusalem, free from the bitterness of exile. The prophet describes a time when the Lord will provide for their needs, restore their teachers, and guide them on the right path. The imagery of rivers of running water and the light of the moon and sun symbolize the richness and fullness of life that God promises to his people. This passage is a message of hope to the Israelites during their time of exile, reminding them that God has not abandoned them and that a brighter future awaits.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who embodies this divine compassion and mercy. Jesus travels through cities and towns, teaching, preaching, and healing. He sees the multitudes as "distressed and lying like sheep without a shepherd," and his heart goes out to them. Moved by their spiritual and physical needs, he calls his disciples to pray for laborers to be sent into the harvest. Jesus then commissions the Twelve, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons, and instructs them to focus their mission on the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." This passage highlights Jesus' deep concern for those who are lost and suffering, and it challenges us to share in his compassion and mission.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah's vision of a restored and healed people finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who brings God's kingdom to earth through his ministry and through the mission of his disciples. Both readings call us to trust in God's providence and to participate in his work of healing and restoration. In our daily lives, we are invited to imitate Jesus' compassion by reaching out to those around us who are hurting or lost. Like the disciples, we are called to be laborers in God's harvest, sharing the Good News and bringing light and hope to a world in need. May we, like Jesus, see the needs of others with hearts full of mercy and respond with faith and generosity.