Daily Readings - Thu Dec 14 2023

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

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of trust, transformation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s providence and transformative power. Isaiah speaks to a people in exile, offering them hope and reassurance. God promises to take them by the hand, to provide for their needs, and to turn the desolate desert into a place of abundance. This passage is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His ability to bring life out of barrenness. It invites us to trust in His plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to John the Baptist, who stands as a bridge between the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament era. Jesus praises John as the greatest among those born of women, yet He also points out that even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. This highlights the humility and uniqueness of John’s role. The kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, has endured violence, meaning that it demands radical commitment and sacrifice from those who seek it. John, as the precursor to Jesus, embodies this struggle and prepares the way for the Messiah. His life teaches us about the importance of humility, perseverance, and fulfilling our God-given mission. Together, these readings call us to reflect on our relationship with God and our place in His plan. Isaiah reminds us to trust in God’s providence, even in the face of adversity, while Matthew challenges us to embrace the humility and courage exemplified by John the Baptist. In our daily lives, we are invited to surrender our fears and doubts to God, knowing that He will guide us. We are also called to live with humility and perseverance, recognizing that the kingdom of heaven requires us to strive for holiness and to trust in God’s transformative power. Let us ask for the grace to walk in faith, to trust in God’s plan, and to live with the courage and humility that these readings inspire.