Daily Readings - Thu Dec 15 2022
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on hope, trust, and the surprising ways God works in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a message of consolation and restoration. The prophet speaks to a people in exile, feeling abandoned and barren, but he assures them that God will not only restore them but also bless them abundantly. The imagery of the tent being enlarged and the desolate cities being inhabited signifies God’s faithfulness and the promise of new life. This passage reminds us that even in times of despair, God’s mercy and love are always at work, preparing a future filled with hope.
In the Gospel, Jesus praises John the Baptist as a prophet and more than a prophet, for he is the one who prepares the way for the Lord. Jesus emphasizes that John’s role is not just to point to himself but to point to the One who is to come. This teaches us about humility and trust in God’s plan. John’s humility and faithfulness in his mission are a model for us. The Pharisees and scholars of the law, however, reject John’s message, showing us the danger of pride and hardness of heart. Jesus reminds us that even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John, not because of their own merits, but because they have accepted the grace of God’s kingdom.
These readings call us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear or difficult. Like the exiles in Isaiah, we may feel barren or forsaken at times, but God is always working to bring new life and hope. Like John the Baptist, we are called to be faithful in our mission, pointing others to Christ with humility and joy. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s mercy, to embrace humility, and to open our hearts to the surprises of His kingdom. May we, like the tax collectors and the people in the Gospel, justify God by embracing His plan and living with faith and gratitude.