Daily Readings - Sat Dec 05 2020
Isaiah
19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.20And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:21And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.23Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.24The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.25And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.26Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
Matthew
35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Sermon
The readings today offer us a vision of hope and healing, intertwined with a call to mission. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a time when God’s people will be restored, their suffering will end, and they will live in abundance and peace. The prophet paints a vivid picture of a world transformed, where the light of the moon and sun will shine brightly, symbolizing the fullness of God’s presence and healing. This passage reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s promise of renewal and restoration is always before us. It is a message of trust in God’s plan and timing.
In the Gospel, Matthew shows us Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds who are “distressed and lying like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus sees the great need around him and responds by sending out his disciples to continue his work of healing and proclamation. This passage challenges us to see the world through the eyes of Christ—eyes that see the brokenness and the potential for transformation. Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to “go and preach” reminds us that we, too, are called to be laborers in God’s harvest. We are invited to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide the grace and strength we need to serve others.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about waiting for God’s future promises; it is also about participating in his work here and now. Like the disciples, we are called to be instruments of healing and hope in a world that often feels lost and without direction. Let us ask ourselves: How can we respond to Jesus’ call today? How can we share his love and light with those around us? May we trust in God’s plan, embrace our mission, and walk in faith, knowing that he is always with us, guiding and sustaining us.