Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 14, 2023
First Reading: Isaiah 41.13-20
13For I am the Lord your God. I take you by your hand, and I say to you: Do not be afraid. I have helped you14Fear not, O worm of Jacob, you who are dead within Israel. I have helped you, says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel15I have established you like a new threshing cart, having serrated blades. You will thresh the mountains and crush them. And you will turn the hills into chaff16You will winnow them, and the wind will blow them away, and the whirlwind will scatter them. And you shall exult in the Lord; you shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel17The indigent and the poor are seeking water, but there is none. Their tongue has been dried up by thirst. I, the Lord, will heed them. I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them18I will open rivers in the high hills, and fountains in the midst of the plains. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the impassable land into streams of water19I will plant the cedar in a deserted place, with the thorn, and the myrtle, and the olive tree. In the desert, I will plant the pine, and the elm, and the box tree together20so that they may see and know, acknowledge and understand, together, that the hand of the Lord has accomplished this, and that the Holy One of Israel has created it
Psalm 145
1The Praise of David himself. I will extol you, O God, my king. And I will bless your name, in this time and forever and ever2Throughout every single day, I will bless you. And I will praise your name, in this time and forever and ever3The Lord is great and exceedingly praiseworthy. And there is no end to his greatness4Generation after generation will praise your works, and they will declare your power5They will tell of the magnificent glory of your sanctity. And they will discourse of your wonders6And they will talk about the virtue of your terrible acts. And they will describe your greatness7They will shout about the memory of your abundant sweetness. And they will exult in your justice8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9The Lord is sweet to all things, and his compassion is upon all his works10O Lord, may all your works confess to you, and let your holy ones bless you11They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and they will declare your power12so as to make known to the sons of men your power and the glory of your magnificent kingdom13Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion is with all, from generation to generation. The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works14The Lord lifts up all who have fallen down, and he sets upright all who have been thrown down15O Lord, all eyes hope in you, and you provide their food in due time16You open your hand, and you fill every kind of animal with a blessing17The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works18The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth19He will do the will of those who fear him, and he will heed their supplication and accomplish their salvation20The Lord watches over all who love him. And he will destroy all sinners21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name, in this time and forever and ever
Gospel: Matthew 11.11-15
11Amen I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he12But from the days of John the Baptist, even until now, the kingdom of heaven has endured violence, and the violent carry it away13For all the prophets and the law prophesied, even until John14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah, who is to come15Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of trust, transformation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s providence and transformative power. Isaiah speaks to a people in exile, offering them hope and reassurance. God promises to take them by the hand, to provide for their needs, and to turn the desolate desert into a place of abundance. This passage is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His ability to bring life out of barrenness. It invites us to trust in His plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to John the Baptist, who stands as a bridge between the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament era. Jesus praises John as the greatest among those born of women, yet He also points out that even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. This highlights the humility and uniqueness of John’s role. The kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, has endured violence, meaning that it demands radical commitment and sacrifice from those who seek it. John, as the precursor to Jesus, embodies this struggle and prepares the way for the Messiah. His life teaches us about the importance of humility, perseverance, and fulfilling our God-given mission.
Together, these readings call us to reflect on our relationship with God and our place in His plan. Isaiah reminds us to trust in God’s providence, even in the face of adversity, while Matthew challenges us to embrace the humility and courage exemplified by John the Baptist. In our daily lives, we are invited to surrender our fears and doubts to God, knowing that He will guide us. We are also called to live with humility and perseverance, recognizing that the kingdom of heaven requires us to strive for holiness and to trust in God’s transformative power. Let us ask for the grace to walk in faith, to trust in God’s plan, and to live with the courage and humility that these readings inspire.