Daily Readings - Thu Dec 05 2024
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 described as the ultimate source of strength and salvation. The prophet speaks of a city secure in God’s protection, where the just and the poor find refuge. This passage reminds us that our true security lies not in human strength or earthly power but in the Lord, who bends down to the lowly and lifts them up. Isaiah’s words are a call to hope and perseverance, especially in times of uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the importance of living out our faith in action. He warns that not everyone who claims to follow Him will enter the kingdom of heaven; only those who do the will of His Father. Jesus then illustrates this with the parable of the two builders—one wise and one foolish. The wise builder constructs his house on rock, symbolizing a life rooted in God’s teachings, while the foolish builder chooses sand, representing a life without a firm spiritual foundation. Jesus’ message is clear: our words and professions of faith mean little unless they are accompanied by deeds that reflect His will.
These readings remind us that faith must be lived out in trust and action. Like the wise builder, we must ground our lives in the teachings of Christ, allowing His words to shape our decisions and guide our actions. In a world that often values power and wealth, Isaiah’s vision of a humble and trusting people challenges us to prioritize the lowly and the marginalized. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, let us build our lives on the rock of God’s love and justice, trusting that He will see us through even the most turbulent storms. In doing so, we become not only hearers of the word but doers, living out the Gospel in a way that reflects the kingdom of heaven.