Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2024
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.6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.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.
Matthew
12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and care for each of us, as well as His desire to bring all people into His fold. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear words of comfort and hope: "Be consoled, be consoled, O my people!" These words were spoken to the Israelites in exile, offering them hope of return and redemption. The prophet describes the voice crying out in the desert, preparing the way for the Lord, and reminds us that while human life and achievements are fleeting, the Word of the Lord endures forever. Isaiah’s message is one of trust in God’s plan and His promise to care for His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the lost sheep to teach us about God’s love and concern for each individual. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one that has gone astray, and when he finds it, he rejoices more over that one than over the others. This parable emphasizes that God does not want any of His children to be lost. It also challenges us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Are we like the shepherd, willing to go out of our way to care for those who are lost or in need? Or are we content to remain with the familiar and the comfortable?
These readings remind us that our God is a God of infinite love and compassion. He knows each of us personally and desires to bring us all into His kingdom. As we go about our daily lives, let us take a moment to reflect on where we might be "lost" or where others might be in need of guidance and support. Let us also remember that we are called to be like the shepherd, to reach out to others with love and care, and to trust in God’s plan for our lives. May we always find joy in the knowledge that we are loved and cherished by our Heavenly Father, and may we strive to share that love with others.