Daily Readings - Sat Dec 07 2019
Isaiah
19O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.20Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."23He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.24The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel.25In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill.26The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.
Matthew
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound visions of God's compassion and our role within His plan. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a restored Israel, where God's people live in abundance and guidance, free from sorrow. This vision is not just a promise of material prosperity but a spiritual renewal, where God's presence is palpable, and His people are led with wisdom and care. In contrast, Matthew's Gospel presents Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds who are like sheep without a shepherd. Recognizing their spiritual hunger, Jesus calls His disciples to be laborers in a bountiful harvest, entrusted with the mission to heal, preach, and bring hope to those in need.
These readings are deeply connected, as both highlight God's compassionate heart and the responsibility of His followers to act. Isaiah's prophecy of restoration finds its fulfillment in the ministry of Jesus and the church. Just as God promised to guide and provide for His people, Jesus commissions His disciples to continue this work of compassion and restoration. The connection reminds us that God's plan is both timeless and timely, requiring active participation from His people.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to trust in God's providence and to embody His compassion. Like the disciples, we are called to step out in faith, serving others and sharing the Good News. The moral lesson here is clear: compassion is not passive but active, requiring us to reach out and make a difference. As we navigate our own challenges, may we find strength in God's promise of guidance and may we, like Jesus, be moved to serve others with love and compassion.