Daily Readings - Mon Dec 04 2017
Isaiah
1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,3and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.4He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Matthew
5When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,6"Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly."7And he said to him, "I will come and heal him."8But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.9For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."10When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.11I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,13And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal call to faith and the ultimate vision of peace and unity that God desires for humanity. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophetic vision of a future where all nations will stream to the mountain of the Lord, seeking his ways and walking in his paths. This vision is one of harmony and peace, where weapons of war are transformed into tools for cultivation, and conflict gives way to cooperation. Isaiah’s words, spoken in a time of turmoil and division, remind us that God’s plan for the world is one of unity and reconciliation.
In the Gospel, we encounter a centurion whose faith astonishes Jesus. This Roman officer, a representative of an occupying power, humbly recognizes Jesus’ authority and trusts in his power to heal his servant. The centurion’s words, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,” reveal a deep humility and understanding of his place before God. Jesus’ response highlights the universality of God’s mercy, as he declares that many from the east and the west will sit at table with the patriarchs in the kingdom of heaven. This exchange underscores that faith is not limited to a particular people or place but is open to all who trust in God’s Word.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith and our openness to God’s universal plan. Like the centurion, we are called to humility and trust, recognizing that God’s grace is not confined to our own circle but extends to all people. Isaiah’s vision reminds us that our ultimate goal is a world where division gives way to unity and where all people can walk in the light of the Lord. Let us strive to live out this vision in our daily lives, embracing the diversity of God’s creation and trusting in his providence. May our faith, like the centurion’s, be a source of hope and healing, not only for ourselves but for the world around us.