Daily Readings - Tue Dec 10 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and care for each of us, as well as His desire to bring all people into His fold. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear words of comfort and hope: "Be consoled, be consoled, O my people!" These words were spoken to the Israelites in exile, offering them hope of return and redemption. The prophet describes the voice crying out in the desert, preparing the way for the Lord, and reminds us that while human life and achievements are fleeting, the Word of the Lord endures forever. Isaiah’s message is one of trust in God’s plan and His promise to care for His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the lost sheep to teach us about God’s love and concern for each individual. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one that has gone astray, and when he finds it, he rejoices more over that one than over the others. This parable emphasizes that God does not want any of His children to be lost. It also challenges us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Are we like the shepherd, willing to go out of our way to care for those who are lost or in need? Or are we content to remain with the familiar and the comfortable?
These readings remind us that our God is a God of infinite love and compassion. He knows each of us personally and desires to bring us all into His kingdom. As we go about our daily lives, let us take a moment to reflect on where we might be "lost" or where others might be in need of guidance and support. Let us also remember that we are called to be like the shepherd, to reach out to others with love and care, and to trust in God’s plan for our lives. May we always find joy in the knowledge that we are loved and cherished by our Heavenly Father, and may we strive to share that love with others.