Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2019
Isaiah
1Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Matthew
12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
The readings today offer us a powerful message of hope, mercy, and the enduring love of God. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophet calling out to a people in exile, offering them comfort and assurance that their time of suffering is coming to an end. Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s glory being revealed and His Word standing eternal, even as human life is fleeting like grass and flowers. The prophet’s words are a reminder that no matter how dark our circumstances may seem, God is always near, ready to shepherd us with tenderness and strength.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. This story is not just about a shepherd’s dedication; it is about the heart of God. It tells us that each of us is precious to God, and He desires that none of us be lost. The parable challenges us to reflect on how we value and care for one another, especially those who feel forgotten or marginalized. Just as the shepherd rejoices over the one found sheep, God rejoices over every soul that returns to Him.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on God’s mercy and our responsibility to live as instruments of that mercy. Isaiah reminds us that God’s Word endures forever, and Jesus shows us that His love is personal and relentless. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate this love—whether by offering a kind word to someone feeling lost, praying for those who have wandered from the faith, or simply trusting in God’s promise to guide us through life’s uncertainties. Let us embrace the hope and comfort these readings offer, and let us strive to be bearers of God’s love to a world in need.