Daily Readings - Fri Dec 10 2021
Isaiah
17Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.18O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:19Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
Matthew
16But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,17And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear two powerful messages about listening to God and living wisely. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that God is our Redeemer and Teacher, who guides us on the right path. Isaiah laments that if only the people had listened to God’s commandments, they would have experienced peace and justice in abundance. The prophet paints a vivid picture of the blessings that could have been theirs—offspring as countless as the sand and a lasting legacy before God. This passage is set in the context of Israel’s exile, where the people are being called to return to God with the promise of restoration and renewal.
The Gospel from Matthew offers a complementary message. Jesus compares the current generation to children who refuse to be satisfied—neither joyful music nor mournful lament can move them. He points out the hypocrisy of those who criticized John the Baptist for his ascetic lifestyle and now criticize Jesus for eating and drinking with sinners. Jesus concludes by saying that wisdom is vindicated by the actions of those who embrace it. This passage reflects the tension between Jesus’ message of love and inclusion and the rigid expectations of the Pharisees, who were unwilling to accept either John’s austerity or Jesus’ openness to all people.
Both readings call us to reflect on how we respond to God’s invitation in our lives. Isaiah urges us to listen to God’s teachings and trust in His guidance, while Matthew challenges us to embrace wisdom and not be rigid in our judgments. In our daily lives, this means being open to God’s presence in both moments of joy and times of challenge. It also means avoiding the hypocrisy of expecting others to fit into our narrow expectations, instead choosing to live with compassion and understanding. Let us ask ourselves: Am I truly listening to God’s voice? Am I living in a way that reflects the wisdom and love of Christ? May we strive to follow God’s path with humility and openness, trusting that His peace and justice will flow through us like a river.