Daily Readings - Mon Dec 03 2018
Isaiah
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
Matthew
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 offer us a vision of hope and faith, reminding us of God’s desire to bring all people together in peace and unity. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a future where the mountain of the Lord’s house is established as the highest point, and all nations stream to it. This is a prophetic vision of a world where God’s law and Word bring light and guidance, ending conflict and warfare. The image of swords being turned into plowshares and spears into sickles symbolizes the transformation from a world of division and violence to one of harmony and productivity. Isaiah’s message is one of trust in God’s plan for humanity, a plan that transcends borders and unites all people under His wisdom.
In the Gospel, we encounter a centurion whose faith in Jesus is remarkable. Despite his position of authority, he humbly recognizes his unworthiness and trusts in Jesus’ power to heal his servant. His words, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,” reflect a deep humility and understanding of authority—both earthly and divine. Jesus praises the centurion’s faith, noting that it surpasses what He has found in Israel. This exchange reminds us that faith is not limited by background or status; it is the openness of the heart to God’s will that matters. The centurion’s trust in Jesus’ Word leads to healing, showing us the power of faith to bring about transformation.
Both readings call us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Isaiah’s vision challenges us to work toward a world where division is overcome, and all people live in harmony. The centurion’s example encourages us to approach God with humility and trust, recognizing that His power can bring light and healing into our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to be instruments of peace and unity, trusting in God’s plan and living with the faith that can move mountains. May we, like the centurion, allow God’s Word to shape our hearts and actions, leading us closer to His kingdom.