Daily Readings - Thu Dec 03 2020
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
In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of trust and action in our spiritual journey. The prophet Isaiah offers a message of hope to Judah, urging trust in God amidst turmoil. He describes a strong city, Zion, as a symbol of God's protection, where the just and truthful enter. Isaiah emphasizes that true strength comes from trusting in the Lord, who brings low the proud and exalts the humble. This trust is not passive but active, leading to a life of peace and hope.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that merely calling Him Lord is insufficient for entering the kingdom of heaven; one must act on His words. His parable of the wise and foolish builders illustrates this point. The wise builder, who acts on Jesus' teachings, builds on a rock, symbolizing a strong spiritual foundation. The foolish builder, who hears but does not act, builds on sand, leading to ruin. This parable underscores the necessity of living out our faith through obedience and action.
Together, these readings stress that true faith is demonstrated through trust and action. Trusting God, as Isaiah suggests, must translate into living according to His will. Like the wise builder, our actions should reflect our faith, building a strong spiritual foundation. This teaches us that faith without works is incomplete. As we navigate life's challenges, let us remember that trusting God and acting on His teachings will provide the stability needed to overcome them.