Daily Readings - Mon Dec 06 2021
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
In today's readings, we journey through two powerful narratives that illuminate God's transformative power and redemption. The first reading from Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a desolate land blossoming into a place of abundant life, where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk. This vision is not just of a physical transformation but a spiritual one, heralding a time when God's people will be restored and creation itself will be renewed. The imagery of a holy path, free from harm, symbolizes the journey of the redeemed, guided by God's grace.
The Gospel from Luke 5 brings this vision into the present as Jesus encounters a paralytic man. The determination of the man's friends to bring him to Jesus, despite the obstacles, reflects the human desire for healing and forgiveness. Jesus's response is profound: He first forgives the man's sins, addressing the deeper spiritual need before healing his body. This act not only demonstrates Jesus's authority but also fulfills the prophetic vision of Isaiah, showing that the kingdom of God is breaking into the world.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's power to transform us. Just as the paralytic man and his friends needed faith and perseverance, we too must seek God with trust, especially in our darkest moments. The readings remind us that true healing begins with forgiveness and that our faith can move mountains. Let us reflect on how we can open ourselves to God's grace, allowing Him to heal and transform us, and how we can be instruments of His love and redemption in the world.