Daily Readings - Mon Dec 03 2018
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 offer us a vision of hope and faith, reminding us of God’s desire to bring all people together in peace and unity. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a future where the mountain of the Lord’s house is established as the highest point, and all nations stream to it. This is a prophetic vision of a world where God’s law and Word bring light and guidance, ending conflict and warfare. The image of swords being turned into plowshares and spears into sickles symbolizes the transformation from a world of division and violence to one of harmony and productivity. Isaiah’s message is one of trust in God’s plan for humanity, a plan that transcends borders and unites all people under His wisdom.
In the Gospel, we encounter a centurion whose faith in Jesus is remarkable. Despite his position of authority, he humbly recognizes his unworthiness and trusts in Jesus’ power to heal his servant. His words, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,” reflect a deep humility and understanding of authority—both earthly and divine. Jesus praises the centurion’s faith, noting that it surpasses what He has found in Israel. This exchange reminds us that faith is not limited by background or status; it is the openness of the heart to God’s will that matters. The centurion’s trust in Jesus’ Word leads to healing, showing us the power of faith to bring about transformation.
Both readings call us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Isaiah’s vision challenges us to work toward a world where division is overcome, and all people live in harmony. The centurion’s example encourages us to approach God with humility and trust, recognizing that His power can bring light and healing into our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to be instruments of peace and unity, trusting in God’s plan and living with the faith that can move mountains. May we, like the centurion, allow God’s Word to shape our hearts and actions, leading us closer to His kingdom.