Daily Readings - Wed Dec 16 2020
Isaiah
6so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.7I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.8"You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it.18For this is what the LORD says- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited- he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.21Declare what is to be, present it- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.22"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.23By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.24They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.25But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.
Luke
19he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"20When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.22So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.23Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful reminders of God’s sovereignty and the call to trust in His plan. The first reading from Isaiah proclaims God’s uniqueness as the Creator of all things, who forms light and darkness, peace and woe. Isaiah emphasizes that God did not create the world in vain but for a purpose, and He alone is the just Savior. The prophet calls all ends of the earth to turn to God, promising salvation and justice for those who do so. This passage, written during the Babylonian exile, reassures the people of Israel that despite their current suffering, God remains in control and will fulfill His promises.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents a moment of doubt and questioning. John the Baptist, though a man of great faith, sends his disciples to Jesus with the question, “Are you he who is to come, or should we wait for another?” Jesus responds not with words of reassurance but with deeds. He heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, and preaches the Good News to the poor. By doing so, Jesus points to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies and confirms His identity as the Messiah. His final words, “Blessed is anyone who has not taken offense at me,” invite us to embrace faith even when doubts arise.
These readings remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear. Like John’s disciples, we may sometimes question whether God is truly at work in our lives or in the world. Yet, Jesus calls us to look at the signs of His presence—the healing, the hope, and the love that surround us—and to trust in His goodness. In our daily lives, let us seek to recognize God’s hand at work, even in the midst of challenges, and to place our faith in Him, knowing that He is our just and merciful Savior.