Daily Readings - Thu Dec 01 2022
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 foundation of our faith and the trust we place in God. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a canticle of hope and trust in the Lord, who is the ultimate source of strength and peace. The prophet describes a city of strength, Zion, where the just and truthful people dwell. He emphasizes that true security comes not from human efforts but from trusting in God, who humbles the proud and lifts up the lowly. This passage reminds us that our hope is not in earthly powers or fleeting successes but in the eternal and unshakable God.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of living out our faith in action. He says 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 two builders: the wise man who builds his house on rock and the foolish man who builds on sand. The house on rock withstands the storms of life because it is founded on a firm foundation—listening to and living out Jesus' teachings. This parable challenges us to examine the foundation of our own lives. Are we merely hearing the Word of God, or are we putting it into practice?
These readings call us to trust in God’s providence and to build our lives on the solid rock of His teachings. In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, we are reminded that true peace and security come from living in harmony with God’s will. Let us ask ourselves: Am I placing my trust in the Lord, or am I relying on my own strength? Am I building my life on the rock of faith, or am I settling for the shifting sands of worldly priorities? May we strive to be wise builders, rooted in prayer, virtue, and a commitment to living out the Gospel in our daily lives.