Daily Readings - Mon Dec 10 2018
Isaiah
1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.2It 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.3Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.4Say 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.5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6Then 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.7And 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.8And 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.9No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:10And 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.
Luke
17And 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.18And, 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.19And 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.20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?24But 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.25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a vivid description of a desolate land being restored to life and beauty. The prophet speaks of a time when the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the lame will leap with joy. This vision is not just about physical healing but also about spiritual renewal. It is a promise of hope for a people in exile, assuring them that God will bring them back to a place of abundance and joy. The imagery of the desert blooming and the creation of a holy path underscores God’s ability to bring life out of barrenness and order out of chaos.
In the Gospel, we see this promise fulfilled in Jesus. Luke’s account of the paralyzed man being lowered through the roof by his friends is a powerful story of faith and healing. The man’s physical paralysis is a symbol of the spiritual paralysis that can afflict us all—sin. Jesus, seeing the man’s faith, forgives his sins first, addressing the deeper need before healing his body. This demonstrates that true healing is not just physical but also spiritual. The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized by Jesus’ claim to forgive sins, but Jesus proves His authority by healing the man, leaving no doubt that He is the Son of Man with the power to forgive and restore.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about waiting for a future promise but about experiencing God’s transformative power in the present. Like the friends of the paralyzed man, we are called to bring others to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal and forgive. In our own lives, we may feel stuck in spiritual or emotional deserts, but God promises to bring life and joy even in the most barren places. Let us ask for the courage to trust in His plan and to seek His healing, knowing that He desires to restore us completely—body, mind, and spirit.