Daily Readings - Thu Dec 09 2021
Isaiah
13For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.14Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.15"See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.16You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.17"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.18I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.19I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,20so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Matthew
11I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.15He who has ears, let him hear.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, transformation, and the call to live with courage and perseverance in our faith. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear words of comfort and hope addressed to a people who feel weak and insignificant. God reassures them, “Do not be afraid, for I am the Lord your God who takes you by the hand.” This passage is set in the context of Israel’s exile, where the people are struggling with despair and doubt. Isaiah reminds them that God is their Redeemer, who will not abandon them but will bring about a dramatic transformation, turning deserts into gardens and providing water in the parched land. This is a powerful image of God’s fidelity and His ability to bring life out of barrenness.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about John the Baptist, describing him as the greatest among those born of women, yet emphasizing that even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. This statement highlights the radical shift that the kingdom of heaven brings. John, as the last of the prophets, prepared the way for the Messiah, but the kingdom itself is a new and greater reality. Jesus also warns that the kingdom has endured violence, meaning that it demands a radical commitment and struggle to live according to its values. This is a call to us to embrace the challenges of following Christ with courage and determination.
Both readings remind us that our faith is not about passivity but about trust and action. Isaiah calls us to trust in God’s power to transform even the most difficult situations, while the Gospel challenges us to live with the boldness and perseverance of John the Baptist. In our daily lives, we are invited to let go of fear and to embrace the transformative power of God. Like the people in the desert, we may face dry and barren moments, but we are called to trust that God can bring new life and hope. Let us also remember that living the Gospel requires us to be courageous and steadfast, even in the face of challenges. May we, like John the Baptist, be willing to prepare the way for the Lord in our own lives and in the world around us.