03/01 – Matthew 11:2-15 – Red Letter Challenge: Being
March 1, 2020
Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10
The desert and the dry land will be glad, and the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like a lily the land will blossom. It will rejoice and sing with joy. It will have the glory of Lebanon, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen limp hands. Steady weak knees. Tell those who are terrified, “Be brave; don’t be afraid. Your God will come with vengeance, with divine revenge. He will come and rescue you.”
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged. Then those who are lame will leap like deer, and those who cannot speak will shout for joy. Water will gush out into the desert, and streams will gush out into the wilderness. Then the hot sand will become a pool, and dry ground will have springs. Grass will become cattails and rushes in the home of jackals.
A highway will be there, a roadway. It will be called the Holy Road. Sinners won’t travel on it. It will be for those who walk on it. Godless fools won’t wander onto it. Lions won’t be there. Wild animals won’t go on it. They won’t be found there, but the people reclaimed by the Lord will walk on it.
The people ransomed by the Lord will return. They will come to Zion singing with joy. Everlasting happiness will be on their heads as a crown. They will be glad and joyful. They will have no sorrow or grief.
Epistle Reading: James 5:7-11
Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. See how farmers wait for their precious crops to grow. They wait patiently for fall and spring rains. You too must be patient. Don’t give up hope. The Lord will soon be here. Brothers and sister, stop complaining about each other or you will be condemned. Realize that the Judge is standing at the door.
Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. They were patient when they suffered unjustly. We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job’s endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job’s suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:2-15
When John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ had done. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is coming or should we look for someone else?”
Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back and tell John what you hear and see. Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News. Whoever does not lose his faith in me is indeed blessed.”
As they were leaving Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind? Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear fine clothes are in royal palaces. Really, what did you go to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that he is far more than a prophet. John is the one about whom Scripture says, ‘I’m sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way in front of you.’
“I can guarantee this truth: Of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. From the time of John the Baptizer until now the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it. All the Prophets and Moses’ Teachings prophesied up to the time of John. If you are willing to accept their message John is the Elijah who was to come. Let the person who has ears listen!
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