Daily Readings - Thu Dec 16 2021
Isaiah
1Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;3For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.6For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Luke
24And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?25But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.26But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.27This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope and humility. The first reading from Isaiah 54 speaks to a people in exile, offering comfort and the promise of restoration. Jerusalem, personified as a barren woman, is assured of God's enduring mercy and the expansion of His people, symbolized by an ever-enlarging tent. This passage, written after the Babylonian exile, reminds us that even in despair, God's faithfulness endures, promising a future filled with life and joy.
The Gospel from Luke 7:24-30 shifts our focus to John the Baptist, whom Jesus praises as the greatest among those born of women. John's role as a prophet and precursor to Christ is emphasized, yet Jesus notes that even the least in the kingdom surpasses John. This highlights the transition from the Old Covenant to the New, where humility and openness to God's will are paramount. The people's acceptance of John's baptism contrasts with the Pharisees' rejection, underscoring the importance of responding to God's plan with humility.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in God's mercy and remain open to His will. Like Isaiah's barren woman, we are called to embrace hope despite challenges. Like John the Baptist, we are to humble ourselves, recognizing our role within God's larger plan. May we, in our daily lives, reflect this hope and humility, trusting in God's faithfulness and responding with open hearts to His call.