Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 14, 2017
First Reading: Isaiah 41.13-20
13For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."14Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.15Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff;16you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.18I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.19I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together,20that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Psalm 145
1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.6They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.7They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.10All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,12to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]14The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.16You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Gospel: Matthew 11.11-15
11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, transformation, and the call to faith. The passage from Isaiah 41:13-20 offers comfort, urging us not to fear as God promises to transform desolate places into sources of life, symbolizing His power to renew and restore. The Gospel from Matthew 11:11-15 highlights John the Baptist's pivotal role as a bridge between the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing the shift from prophecy to the fulfillment in Christ. Jesus notes the struggle in living out faith, yet affirms that even the least in the kingdom holds a great place.
Both readings connect through the theme of trust in God's plan. Isaiah's assurance of restoration and Matthew's focus on the kingdom's arrival remind us to trust God's providence, even amidst challenges. The transformation promised in Isaiah is fulfilled in Christ, as John the Baptist prepares the way for the Messiah, illustrating the transition from anticipation to realization.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace faith courageously. Just as God transforms deserts into pools, He can bring life to our barren areas. Trusting in His plan, we are empowered to face struggles with hope, knowing that our faith, though small, is part of a greater divine narrative. Let us live with trust and faith, allowing God's transformative power to guide us through life's trials.