Daily Readings - Mon Dec 11 2023
Isaiah
1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.2It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.3Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.4Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.7And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.8And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.9No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Luke
17And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.18And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful visions of healing and redemption. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a desolate land transformed into a place of beauty and life, where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk. This is not just a physical transformation but a spiritual one, where God’s presence brings joy and liberation. The Gospel from Luke brings this vision to life in the story of the paralytic man, whose friends’ unwavering faith leads Jesus to forgive his sins and restore his bodily health. Both readings remind us that God’s power is not limited to the physical realm but extends to the deepest recesses of the human heart.
The context of these readings is rooted in hope and trust. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks to a people in exile, longing for restoration and renewal. Luke’s account, set in the early days of Jesus’ ministry, challenges the Pharisees’ rigid understanding of God’s authority. Both passages emphasize that true healing comes from trusting in God’s plan and His ability to transform even the most broken situations. The paralytic’s friends, determined to bring him to Jesus despite the obstacles, teach us the value of perseverance and faith in the face of adversity.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we approach our own challenges and struggles. Like the paralytic and his friends, we are called to trust in God’s power to heal and redeem. This is not just about physical healing but about the spiritual transformation that comes from encountering Christ. In our daily lives, we can apply this by seeking God’s presence in our struggles, trusting in His plan, and persevering in faith. The moral lesson here is clear: God’s healing power is available to all, but it requires us to open our hearts and minds to His grace. Let us, like the paralytic, rise up and walk in the freedom and joy that only God can provide.