Daily Readings - Thu Dec 14 2017
First Reading - Isaiah 41.13-20
Isaiah
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Gospel - Matthew 11.11-15
Matthew
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, transformation, and the call to faith. The passage from Isaiah 41:13-20 offers comfort, urging us not to fear as God promises to transform desolate places into sources of life, symbolizing His power to renew and restore. The Gospel from Matthew 11:11-15 highlights John the Baptist's pivotal role as a bridge between the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing the shift from prophecy to the fulfillment in Christ. Jesus notes the struggle in living out faith, yet affirms that even the least in the kingdom holds a great place.
Both readings connect through the theme of trust in God's plan. Isaiah's assurance of restoration and Matthew's focus on the kingdom's arrival remind us to trust God's providence, even amidst challenges. The transformation promised in Isaiah is fulfilled in Christ, as John the Baptist prepares the way for the Messiah, illustrating the transition from anticipation to realization.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace faith courageously. Just as God transforms deserts into pools, He can bring life to our barren areas. Trusting in His plan, we are empowered to face struggles with hope, knowing that our faith, though small, is part of a greater divine narrative. Let us live with trust and faith, allowing God's transformative power to guide us through life's trials.