Daily Readings - Mon Dec 07 2020
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
The readings today offer us a powerful message of hope, healing, and redemption. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a vivid description of a desolate land transformed into a place of beauty and life. The prophet speaks of the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the lame leaping with joy. This is not just a vision of physical healing but a spiritual one, where God’s presence brings restoration and joy to those who have been afflicted. The passage reminds us that God’s power can transform even the most barren and broken situations, creating a holy path for those who trust in Him.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the story of a paralytic man who is lowered through the roof by his friends to reach Jesus. What is striking here is not just the physical healing that takes place, but the fact that Jesus first forgives the man’s sins. This act of forgiveness is what truly sets him free, and it is only then that he is able to rise and walk. The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized by Jesus’ claim to forgive sins, but Jesus demonstrates His authority by healing the man. This story shows us that true healing is not just about the body but also about the soul. Jesus has the power to forgive our sins and restore us to wholeness.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about waiting for a distant promise but about experiencing God’s transformative power in our lives today. Like the friends of the paralytic, we are called to bring others to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal and restore. And like the man in the Gospel, we are called to respond to God’s grace with faith and gratitude. Let us open our hearts to the healing power of God, both in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. May we walk in the holy way, free from the burdens of sin, and may we always give glory to God for the miracles He works in us.