Daily Readings - Sat Mar 05 2022
Isaiah
9Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:14Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Luke
27And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about living out our faith through compassion and humility. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that true fasting is not just about abstaining from food, but about breaking the chains of oppression, feeding the hungry, and satisfying the afflicted. Isaiah calls us to live in such a way that our light rises in darkness, and our actions bring life and hope to those around us. The prophet emphasizes that when we pour ourselves out for others, we find rest and splendor in God, and we become instruments of healing and restoration in a broken world.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the story of Jesus calling Levi, a tax collector, and dining with sinners. This act of inclusion shocks the Pharisees and scribes, who question why Jesus would associate with those they deem unworthy. Jesus responds by saying that he has come not for the righteous, but for sinners. This exchange challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes toward others. Are we like the Pharisees, quick to judge and exclude, or are we like Jesus, who sees the potential for repentance and new life in everyone? Jesus’ actions remind us that the Kingdom of God is not about separation but about reconciliation and mercy.
These readings invite us to examine our lives and relationships. How often do we, like the Pharisees, look down on others or keep ourselves apart? How often do we, like Isaiah, pour ourselves out for those in need? Jesus shows us that true holiness is not about appearances or rules but about reaching out to the margins, embracing the outcast, and living with compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone to love and serve others? Am I open to seeing the goodness in those society may label as sinners? May we follow Jesus’ example, becoming repairers of brokenness and bringers of light to a world in need.