Daily Readings - Sun Dec 10 2023
Isaiah
1Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
2 Peter
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Mark
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;2As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.5And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.6And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of preparation, patience, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. The first reading from Isaiah speaks of comfort and hope for Jerusalem, urging the people to prepare for the coming of the Lord. The prophet describes a God who is both powerful and tender, promising to gather his flock like a shepherd and carry the weak in his bosom. This passage reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, God’s plan is unfolding, and we are called to trust in his timing and providence.
The second reading from 2 Peter emphasizes the patience of God as he waits for all people to turn to him. The apostle reminds us that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, and with it, the old heavens and earth will pass away. Yet, rather than fear, this should inspire us to live holy and blameless lives, eagerly awaiting the new heavens and the new earth where justice dwells. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives and to strive for holiness as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises.
In the Gospel, Mark introduces John the Baptist, who calls the people to repentance and baptism in preparation for the coming of Jesus. John’s message is one of humility and recognition of his own limitations, pointing to the one who is greater than himself. This passage invites us to reflect on our own need for repentance and our readiness to welcome Christ into our lives. Just as the people of Judea went out to the desert to be baptized, we too are called to create space in our hearts for the Lord to come and dwell among us.
These readings remind us that our faith is not static but dynamic. We are called to prepare, to wait, and to live with hope and expectation. In our daily lives, this means being open to conversion, trusting in God’s timing, and striving to live in a way that reflects the justice and love of the kingdom we await. Let us embrace the call to holiness, knowing that the Lord is always near, and his promises are always fulfilled in his own perfect time.