Daily Readings - Sat Feb 29 2020
Isaiah
9Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:14Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Luke
27And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about living out our faith through compassionate actions and inclusive communities. The first reading from Isaiah 58 emphasizes the true meaning of fasting and observing the Sabbath. Isaiah critiques hypocritical practices, urging the people to fast not just from food but from oppression and injustice. He calls them to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and free the oppressed, promising that such actions will bring light and renewal. Observing the Sabbath is not just about rest but about glorifying God by not pursuing one's own interests, leading to spiritual nourishment and joy.
The Gospel from Luke 5 shifts our focus to Jesus' encounter with Levi, a tax collector, and His dining with sinners. This act shocks the Pharisees, who question Jesus' choice of company. Jesus responds by clarifying His mission: He has come not for the self-righteous but for those who recognize their need for repentance. This challenges the traditional religious boundaries, emphasizing that faith is about reaching out to those on the margins.
These readings connect through their emphasis on compassion and inclusivity. Isaiah highlights the need to care for the vulnerable, while Luke shows Jesus embracing those society rejects. Both challenge us to move beyond mere rituals to a faith that transforms lives. In our daily lives, this means reflecting on how our actions align with our faith, ensuring we serve others and embrace those different from us. The moral lesson is clear: true piety is about love and service, not just rituals. Let us strive to live out our faith by caring for others and welcoming all, just as Jesus did.