Daily Readings - Mon Dec 06 2021
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
In today's readings, we journey through two powerful narratives that illuminate God's transformative power and redemption. The first reading from Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a desolate land blossoming into a place of abundant life, where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk. This vision is not just of a physical transformation but a spiritual one, heralding a time when God's people will be restored and creation itself will be renewed. The imagery of a holy path, free from harm, symbolizes the journey of the redeemed, guided by God's grace.
The Gospel from Luke 5 brings this vision into the present as Jesus encounters a paralytic man. The determination of the man's friends to bring him to Jesus, despite the obstacles, reflects the human desire for healing and forgiveness. Jesus's response is profound: He first forgives the man's sins, addressing the deeper spiritual need before healing his body. This act not only demonstrates Jesus's authority but also fulfills the prophetic vision of Isaiah, showing that the kingdom of God is breaking into the world.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's power to transform us. Just as the paralytic man and his friends needed faith and perseverance, we too must seek God with trust, especially in our darkest moments. The readings remind us that true healing begins with forgiveness and that our faith can move mountains. Let us reflect on how we can open ourselves to God's grace, allowing Him to heal and transform us, and how we can be instruments of His love and redemption in the world.