Daily Readings - Thu Dec 06 2018
Isaiah
1In that day, this canticle will be sung in the land of Judah. Within it will be set the city of our strength: Zion, a savior, a wall with a bulwark2Open the gates, and let the just people who guard the truth enter3The old error has gone away. You will serve peace: peace, for we have hoped in you4You have trusted in the Lord for all eternity, in the Lord God almighty forever5For he will bend down those living in the heights. He will bring low the lofty city. He will lower it, even to the ground. He will tear it down, even to the dust6The foot will tread it down: the feet of the poor, the steps of the indigent
Matthew
21Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same shall enter into the kingdom of heaven24Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them shall be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock25And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them shall be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand27And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, and it did fall, and great was its ruin.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, fidelity, and the sure foundation of God’s promises. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a canticle of hope and trust in the Lord. The prophet describes a city of strength, Zion, where the just and the faithful enter through the gates. He reminds us that true peace comes from hoping in God and trusting in His eternal providence. The passage also warns against pride and arrogance, as the lofty city will be brought low, while the poor and the humble will find their footing on the solid ground of God’s justice.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of living out our faith in action. He warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father. Jesus then uses the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate this point. The wise builder, who hears His words and acts on them, constructs his house on the rock, and it stands firm against the storms of life. The foolish builder, who hears but does not act, builds on sand, and his house collapses. This parable reminds us that our faith must be rooted in action, not just words.
These readings call us to examine our lives and ensure that we are building our spiritual houses on the rock of God’s word. Like the just and faithful in Isaiah, we must trust in the Lord and live according to His will. Like the wise builder in Matthew, we must hear God’s word and put it into practice. In a world filled with uncertainties, let us turn to the Lord, who is our strength and our peace. Let us strive to live humbly, trusting in His providence and building our lives on the solid foundation of His teachings. In doing so, we will find true peace and stability, even in the midst of life’s storms.