Daily Readings - Sun Dec 06 2020
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.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.
2 Peter
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Mark
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;2As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.5And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.6And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on preparation, patience, and the call to live with purpose. In Isaiah, we hear a message of comfort and hope, urging us to prepare the way for the Lord, where every valley is lifted and every mountain lowered, symbolizing a world made level for God’s glory. In 2 Peter, we are reminded of God’s patience and the promise of a new heavens and earth, encouraging us to live holy and blameless lives as we await His day. The Gospel introduces John the Baptist, who, in humility, prepares the way for Jesus, baptizing with water and heralding the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
These readings are interconnected through the theme of preparation and waiting. Isaiah’s call to prepare the way is fulfilled in John the Baptist’s ministry, while 2 Peter’s emphasis on holy living underscores the ongoing nature of our preparation. Just as John prepared the people for Jesus’ arrival, we too are called to prepare our hearts and lives for God’s presence, trusting in His timing and promises.
In our daily lives, this means embracing humility and repentance, much like John’s example. We are to live with patience and holiness, recognizing that our time is not God’s time. As we navigate life’s challenges, let us remember to stay grounded in faith, preparing our hearts for the Lord’s work within us. The moral lesson here is clear: our lives should be a testament to God’s presence, lived with purpose and trust in His plan. Let us, like John, humbly prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts and in the world around us.