Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 5, 2017
First Reading: Isaiah 11.1-10
1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.7The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.9They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.10In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Psalm 72
1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!5May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!9May desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust!10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!17May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!18Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
Gospel: Luke 10.21-24
21In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.22All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."23Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s plan and the way He reveals Himself to us. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a future where God’s Spirit-filled leader will bring justice, harmony, and peace to the world. This leader, rooted in Jesse’s lineage, will not judge by appearances but will side with the poor and the meek, creating a world where even predators and prey live in peace. Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a world transformed by God’s justice and wisdom, where the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
In the Gospel, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, thanking the Father for revealing divine truths not to the wise and powerful, but to the simple and humble. Jesus emphasizes that the Father and the Son share a unique relationship, and that the Son has been entrusted to reveal the Father to those He chooses. Turning to His disciples, Jesus blesses them for being eyewitnesses to the fulfillment of God’s promises, something that many prophets and kings longed to see but did not. This passage underscores the theme of divine revelation and the privilege of faith.
These readings remind us that God’s ways are not our ways. He often works through the unexpected and reveals Himself to those who are humble and open to His grace. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it doesn’t align with our expectations. Like the disciples, we are blessed to have the gift of faith, and with that gift comes the responsibility to live in a way that reflects God’s justice, compassion, and love. Let us strive to be simple of heart, open to the Spirit, and attentive to the ways God is working in our lives and in the world around us.