Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2019
Isaiah
1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.3A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."6A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.7The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.8The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."9You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"10See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Matthew
12"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Sermon
The readings today offer us a powerful message of hope, mercy, and the enduring love of God. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophet calling out to a people in exile, offering them comfort and assurance that their time of suffering is coming to an end. Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s glory being revealed and His Word standing eternal, even as human life is fleeting like grass and flowers. The prophet’s words are a reminder that no matter how dark our circumstances may seem, God is always near, ready to shepherd us with tenderness and strength.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. This story is not just about a shepherd’s dedication; it is about the heart of God. It tells us that each of us is precious to God, and He desires that none of us be lost. The parable challenges us to reflect on how we value and care for one another, especially those who feel forgotten or marginalized. Just as the shepherd rejoices over the one found sheep, God rejoices over every soul that returns to Him.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on God’s mercy and our responsibility to live as instruments of that mercy. Isaiah reminds us that God’s Word endures forever, and Jesus shows us that His love is personal and relentless. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate this love—whether by offering a kind word to someone feeling lost, praying for those who have wandered from the faith, or simply trusting in God’s promise to guide us through life’s uncertainties. Let us embrace the hope and comfort these readings offer, and let us strive to be bearers of God’s love to a world in need.