Daily Readings - Mon Dec 11 2017
First Reading - Isaiah 35.1-10
Isaiah
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Gospel - Luke 5.17-26
Luke
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives of healing and redemption, reminding us of God's transformative power in our lives. The passage from Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a barren land blossoming into life, symbolizing the spiritual renewal of God's people. It speaks of the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the lame leaping, illustrating a world restored to wholeness through God's grace. This vision of restoration is not just physical but deeply spiritual, offering hope to those in exile and despair.
In the Gospel of Luke, we witness Jesus' authority to forgive sins and heal the paralytic man. This miracle underscores the unity of spiritual and physical healing, as Jesus first forgives the man's sins and then heals his body. The faith of the paralytic's friends, who went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus, teaches us about the power of trust and perseverance in seeking God's help. Their actions remind us that our faith can be a source of healing for others.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Just as the desolate land in Isaiah and the paralytic in Luke experienced transformation, we too can trust in God's power to heal our brokenness. Whether we are dealing with emotional, spiritual, or physical challenges, we are called to approach God with faith, knowing that He desires our wholeness. Let us, like the friends of the paralytic, bring our needs and those of others to Jesus, confident in His mercy and love. May we walk in the hope of restoration, trusting that God's grace can bring light and life to even the darkest places.