Daily Readings - Mon Dec 11 2023
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 encounter powerful visions of healing and redemption. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a desolate land transformed into a place of beauty and life, where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk. This is not just a physical transformation but a spiritual one, where God’s presence brings joy and liberation. The Gospel from Luke brings this vision to life in the story of the paralytic man, whose friends’ unwavering faith leads Jesus to forgive his sins and restore his bodily health. Both readings remind us that God’s power is not limited to the physical realm but extends to the deepest recesses of the human heart.
The context of these readings is rooted in hope and trust. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks to a people in exile, longing for restoration and renewal. Luke’s account, set in the early days of Jesus’ ministry, challenges the Pharisees’ rigid understanding of God’s authority. Both passages emphasize that true healing comes from trusting in God’s plan and His ability to transform even the most broken situations. The paralytic’s friends, determined to bring him to Jesus despite the obstacles, teach us the value of perseverance and faith in the face of adversity.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we approach our own challenges and struggles. Like the paralytic and his friends, we are called to trust in God’s power to heal and redeem. This is not just about physical healing but about the spiritual transformation that comes from encountering Christ. In our daily lives, we can apply this by seeking God’s presence in our struggles, trusting in His plan, and persevering in faith. The moral lesson here is clear: God’s healing power is available to all, but it requires us to open our hearts and minds to His grace. Let us, like the paralytic, rise up and walk in the freedom and joy that only God can provide.