Daily Readings - Tue Dec 06 2022
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
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, redemption, and God's enduring love. The first reading from Isaiah offers a vision of consolation and transformation. The prophet speaks to a people in exile, promising that their suffering will end and that God's glory will be revealed. He uses vivid imagery—valleys being lifted and mountains lowered—to convey that God will prepare a way for His people, ensuring a smooth path for their return. Isaiah also reminds us of the transient nature of human life, likening it to grass and flowers that wither, but contrasts this with the eternal Word of God, which endures forever.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this message with the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus teaches that the shepherd, representing God, goes to great lengths to find the one lost sheep, rejoicing more over its return than over the ninety-nine that remained safe. This emphasizes God's deep care for each individual, especially those who feel lost or marginalized. Together, the readings highlight God's active role in seeking and saving His people, whether through the prophetic call to prepare the way or the shepherd's relentless pursuit of the lost.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan and to reflect His compassionate heart. Just as Isaiah called the people to hope and preparation, we are urged to trust in God's promises, even in uncertain times. Like the shepherd, we are called to reach out to those around us who may feel lost or forgotten, embodying God's mercy and love. The moral lesson here is clear: God's love is both eternal and personal, and we are all called to participate in His work of redemption and care. Let us, therefore, open our hearts to His Word and allow His Spirit to guide us in living out His love in the world.