Daily Readings - Sat Feb 17 2018
Isaiah
9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,10and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.11The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.13"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,14then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Luke
27After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him,28and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.29Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"31Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful calls to live out our faith in action. The first reading from Isaiah challenges us to move beyond superficial religious practices and instead embrace a life of justice and compassion. The prophet condemns empty fasting and points to the true fast: setting free the oppressed, feeding the hungry, and caring for the afflicted. He promises that when we live in such a way, our light will shine in darkness, and we will find true rest and renewal in God. The passage also emphasizes the importance of keeping the Sabbath as a day of delight and glorifying God by not pursuing our own interests.
In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrates this very way of living. He calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him, and Levi responds by leaving everything behind. Jesus then shares a meal with Levi and other tax collectors and sinners, prompting criticism from the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus defends his actions by saying that he has come not for the righteous but for sinners, to call them to repentance. This exchange highlights Jesus’ mission to reach out to those on the margins and to bring healing and forgiveness to those who recognize their need for it.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s call to justice and compassion is fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry of mercy and inclusion. Both readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in tangible ways. We are called to move beyond mere religious rituals and instead to love and serve others, especially those who are marginalized or struggling. In our daily lives, this means being attentive to the needs of those around us, advocating for justice, and reaching out with compassion, just as Jesus did. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not just about what we believe but about how we live. By living in this way, we not only reflect God’s love but also find true fulfillment and joy.