Daily Readings - Sun Sep 05 2021
Isaiah
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.
James
1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;3And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Mark
31And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.32And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.33And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;34And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.35And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.36And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;37And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, healing, and the call to unbiased faith. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future filled with redemption, where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame leap. This prophecy speaks of a time when God’s presence will transform despair into joy and brokenness into wholeness. It is a promise of comfort and renewal, reminding us that God’s plan is one of restoration and salvation.
The Gospel of Mark brings this prophecy to life through the story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. Jesus’ compassionate act transcends physical limitations, demonstrating His divine power and mercy. By healing the man, Jesus not only restores his physical senses but also opens him to the Good News. This miracle is a testament to Jesus’ mission to include all people in God’s kingdom, regardless of their condition. The healing also reflects the spiritual awakening Isaiah foretold, where barriers are broken down, and all can experience God’s grace.
James’ epistle challenges us to embody this inclusive love in our daily lives. He warns against favoritism, urging us to treat everyone with equal respect and dignity. Just as Jesus reached out to those on the margins, we are called to embrace those often overlooked. True faith, James reminds us, is not about outward appearances but about living out God’s love without partiality. As we reflect on these readings, let us strive to create communities where everyone feels valued and included, trusting in God’s transformative power to heal and renew us all.