Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 4, 2017
First Reading: Isaiah 2.1-5
1The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem2And in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be prepared at the summit of the mountains, and it will be exalted above the hills, and all the nations shall flow to it3And many peoples will go, and they will say: "Let us approach and ascend to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob. And he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For the law will go forth from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem4And he will judge the nations, and he will rebuke many peoples. And they shall forge their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they continue to train for battle5O house of Jacob, let us approach and walk in the light of the Lord
Psalm 122
1A Canticle in steps. I rejoiced in the things that were said to me: "We shall go into the house of the Lord.2Our feet were standing in your courts, O Jerusalem3Jerusalem has been built as a city, whose participation is unto itself4For to that place, the tribes ascended, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to confess to the name of the Lord5For in that place, seats have sat down in judgment, seats above the house of David6Petition for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem, and for abundance for those who love you7Let peace be in your virtue, and abundance in your towers8For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors, I spoke peace about you9For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I sought good things for you
Gospel: Matthew 8.5-11, 13
5And when he had entered into Capernaum, a centurion approached, petitioning him6and saying, "Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed and badly tormented.7And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him.8And responding, the centurion said: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed9For I, too, am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.10And, hearing this, Jesus wondered. And he said to those following him: "Amen I say to you, I have not found so great a faith in Israel11For I say to you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and they shall sit at table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven13And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, and just as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And the servant was healed at that very hour
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal call to faith and the ultimate vision of peace and unity that God desires for humanity. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophetic vision of a future where all nations will stream to the mountain of the Lord, seeking his ways and walking in his paths. This vision is one of harmony and peace, where weapons of war are transformed into tools for cultivation, and conflict gives way to cooperation. Isaiah’s words, spoken in a time of turmoil and division, remind us that God’s plan for the world is one of unity and reconciliation.
In the Gospel, we encounter a centurion whose faith astonishes Jesus. This Roman officer, a representative of an occupying power, humbly recognizes Jesus’ authority and trusts in his power to heal his servant. The centurion’s words, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,” reveal a deep humility and understanding of his place before God. Jesus’ response highlights the universality of God’s mercy, as he declares that many from the east and the west will sit at table with the patriarchs in the kingdom of heaven. This exchange underscores that faith is not limited to a particular people or place but is open to all who trust in God’s Word.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith and our openness to God’s universal plan. Like the centurion, we are called to humility and trust, recognizing that God’s grace is not confined to our own circle but extends to all people. Isaiah’s vision reminds us that our ultimate goal is a world where division gives way to unity and where all people can walk in the light of the Lord. Let us strive to live out this vision in our daily lives, embracing the diversity of God’s creation and trusting in his providence. May our faith, like the centurion’s, be a source of hope and healing, not only for ourselves but for the world around us.