Daily Readings - Wed Dec 13 2017
First Reading - Isaiah 40.25-31
Isaiah
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Gospel - Matthew 11.28-30
Matthew
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful invitations to trust in God’s providence and find rest in Him. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us of God’s incomparable greatness and His unwavering care for His people. Addressing the Israelites in exile, Isaiah reassures them that even when their journey seems hidden from God, He remains the all-powerful Creator who never grows weary. He promises strength to the weary and urges them to hope in Him, for those who do will soar like eagles, unburdened by their struggles. The Gospel, from Matthew, offers a similar yet deeply personal invitation. Jesus calls out to all who are laboring and burdened, promising rest and refreshment. He invites us to take His yoke upon us, not as a new burden, but as a path to humility and peace. His yoke, He assures us, is sweet, and His burden is light.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, speak to a universal human experience: the feeling of being overwhelmed and the longing for relief. Isaiah emphasizes God’s transcendence and His ability to renew our strength, while Jesus offers a more intimate invitation to lean on Him in our weariness. Together, they remind us that our burdens, though real, are not ours to carry alone. God’s strength is available to us, and His rest is a gift we can receive when we surrender our struggles to Him.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to humility and trust. When we feel exhausted or discouraged, we are invited to lift our eyes to the God who created the stars and yet knows each of us by name. We are reminded that true rest comes not from our own efforts but from surrendering our burdens to Him. Let us learn to hope in the Lord, to take His yoke upon us, and to walk in the humility and peace that only He can give. In doing so, we will find the strength to run without growing weary and to rise above our challenges like eagles soaring on wings of faith.