Daily Readings - Mon Dec 11 2017
Isaiah
1The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,2it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.3Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;4say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."5Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.6Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.7The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.8And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.9No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there,10and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Luke
17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives of healing and redemption, reminding us of God's transformative power in our lives. The passage from Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a barren land blossoming into life, symbolizing the spiritual renewal of God's people. It speaks of the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the lame leaping, illustrating a world restored to wholeness through God's grace. This vision of restoration is not just physical but deeply spiritual, offering hope to those in exile and despair.
In the Gospel of Luke, we witness Jesus' authority to forgive sins and heal the paralytic man. This miracle underscores the unity of spiritual and physical healing, as Jesus first forgives the man's sins and then heals his body. The faith of the paralytic's friends, who went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus, teaches us about the power of trust and perseverance in seeking God's help. Their actions remind us that our faith can be a source of healing for others.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Just as the desolate land in Isaiah and the paralytic in Luke experienced transformation, we too can trust in God's power to heal our brokenness. Whether we are dealing with emotional, spiritual, or physical challenges, we are called to approach God with faith, knowing that He desires our wholeness. Let us, like the friends of the paralytic, bring our needs and those of others to Jesus, confident in His mercy and love. May we walk in the hope of restoration, trusting that God's grace can bring light and life to even the darkest places.