Daily Readings - Fri Dec 16 2022
Isaiah
1This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.2Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."3Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree."6And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-7these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."8The Sovereign LORD declares- he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."
John
16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."33"You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.34Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.36"I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of inclusion, justice, and the ongoing work of God. The first reading from Isaiah speaks to a community returning from exile, urging them to live justly and to remember that God’s house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah emphasizes that no one should feel excluded from God’s people—neither the foreigner nor the eunuch—because God’s covenant is open to all who keep the Sabbath and hold fast to His covenant. This vision of an inclusive community challenges the Israelites to move beyond their narrow understandings of who belongs.
In the Gospel, Jesus defends His work on the Sabbath, explaining that His Father is always working, and so is He. Jesus references John the Baptist as a witness to the truth, but He also points to His own works as testimony to His divine mission. This exchange highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, who were scandalized by His actions. Yet, Jesus’ words invite us to see beyond the strictures of human tradition and to recognize the active presence of God in the world.
These readings remind us that our faith is not confined to narrow rules or boundaries. Like Isaiah’s vision of an inclusive community, and like Jesus’ insistence that God’s work knows no rest, we are called to live in a way that reflects God’s justice, mercy, and love. In our daily lives, this means embracing those who feel excluded, standing up for what is right, and recognizing that God is always at work—even in unexpected ways. Let us open our hearts to the breadth of God’s vision and allow His Spirit to guide us in living as His people.