Daily Readings - Sun Dec 10 2023

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."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.

2 Peter

Chapter 3

⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.¹¹Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives¹²as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.¹³But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.¹⁴So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Mark

Chapter 1

¹The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.²It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"--³"a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"⁴And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.⁵The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.⁶John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.⁷And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.⁸I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of preparation, patience, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. The first reading from Isaiah speaks of comfort and hope for Jerusalem, urging the people to prepare for the coming of the Lord. The prophet describes a God who is both powerful and tender, promising to gather his flock like a shepherd and carry the weak in his bosom. This passage reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, God’s plan is unfolding, and we are called to trust in his timing and providence. The second reading from 2 Peter emphasizes the patience of God as he waits for all people to turn to him. The apostle reminds us that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, and with it, the old heavens and earth will pass away. Yet, rather than fear, this should inspire us to live holy and blameless lives, eagerly awaiting the new heavens and the new earth where justice dwells. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives and to strive for holiness as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the Gospel, Mark introduces John the Baptist, who calls the people to repentance and baptism in preparation for the coming of Jesus. John’s message is one of humility and recognition of his own limitations, pointing to the one who is greater than himself. This passage invites us to reflect on our own need for repentance and our readiness to welcome Christ into our lives. Just as the people of Judea went out to the desert to be baptized, we too are called to create space in our hearts for the Lord to come and dwell among us. These readings remind us that our faith is not static but dynamic. We are called to prepare, to wait, and to live with hope and expectation. In our daily lives, this means being open to conversion, trusting in God’s timing, and striving to live in a way that reflects the justice and love of the kingdom we await. Let us embrace the call to holiness, knowing that the Lord is always near, and his promises are always fulfilled in his own perfect time.