Daily Readings - Mon Dec 07 2020
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 offer us a powerful message of hope, healing, and redemption. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a vivid description of a desolate land transformed into a place of beauty and life. The prophet speaks of the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the lame leaping with joy. This is not just a vision of physical healing but a spiritual one, where God’s presence brings restoration and joy to those who have been afflicted. The passage reminds us that God’s power can transform even the most barren and broken situations, creating a holy path for those who trust in Him.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the story of a paralytic man who is lowered through the roof by his friends to reach Jesus. What is striking here is not just the physical healing that takes place, but the fact that Jesus first forgives the man’s sins. This act of forgiveness is what truly sets him free, and it is only then that he is able to rise and walk. The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized by Jesus’ claim to forgive sins, but Jesus demonstrates His authority by healing the man. This story shows us that true healing is not just about the body but also about the soul. Jesus has the power to forgive our sins and restore us to wholeness.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about waiting for a distant promise but about experiencing God’s transformative power in our lives today. Like the friends of the paralytic, we are called to bring others to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal and restore. And like the man in the Gospel, we are called to respond to God’s grace with faith and gratitude. Let us open our hearts to the healing power of God, both in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. May we walk in the holy way, free from the burdens of sin, and may we always give glory to God for the miracles He works in us.