Daily Readings - Sat Dec 04 2021
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, healing, and mission. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a restored Zion, where God’s people live in abundance and peace. The prophet describes a time when the Lord will provide for all needs, both physical and spiritual, and when His people will no longer suffer but instead flourish under His care. This vision is not just a distant promise but a call to trust in God’s providence and to remain faithful even in times of hardship.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who embodies this divine compassion and care. Jesus travels through cities and towns, teaching, preaching, and healing, moved by the sight of people who are “distressed and lying like sheep without a shepherd.” His response is not only to meet their physical needs but also to address their spiritual hunger. Recognizing the vastness of the need, Jesus calls his disciples to join him in this mission, sending them out to preach, heal, and bring hope to those who have wandered away from God. This passage reminds us that we, too, are called to be instruments of God’s healing and love in the world.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s vision of restoration finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who inaugurates the kingdom of heaven through his ministry. Just as God promised to send teachers and healers to his people, Jesus sends his disciples—and by extension, us—to continue his work. The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to trust in God’s plan, to be compassionate as Christ is compassionate, and to step out in faith to serve others. In our daily lives, this means looking for opportunities to bring light, hope, and healing to those around us, whether through a kind word, a listening ear, or a helping hand. Let us embrace this mission with joy, remembering that we do not labor alone but are accompanied by the Lord, who multiplies our efforts and brings fruit to our work.