Daily Readings - Thu Dec 05 2019
Isaiah
1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.2Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.3You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.4Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.5For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.6The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy."
Matthew
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.24"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of trust, action, and spiritual foundation. The First Reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a city of strength, Zion, where the just and truthful enter through open gates. It speaks of a time when old errors fade away, and peace is served because hope is placed in God. The passage also warns of the downfall of the lofty city, emphasizing that the poor and the humble will tread it down. This serves as a reminder that true strength comes from trusting in God, who humbles the proud and exalts the humble.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this message with Jesus’ teachings on true discipleship. He emphasizes that merely calling Him “Lord” is not enough; what matters is doing the will of His Father. Jesus then illustrates this with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The wise man builds his house on rock, symbolizing a life grounded in God’s will, which endures life’s storms. Conversely, the foolish man builds on sand, representing a life without a firm spiritual foundation, which crumbles under pressure. This parable underscores the importance of not just hearing God’s word but also living it out in our actions.
These readings remind us that our faith must be rooted in trust and action. Just as the wise builder acts on Jesus’ teachings to secure his house, we too must build our lives on the rock of God’s will. In our daily lives, this means putting our faith into practice through our choices and deeds. It calls us to trust in God’s providence, even when challenges arise, and to live out our faith with integrity. The moral lesson here is clear: a life of faith without action is like a house built on sand—it may look sturdy but will not withstand the storms of life. Let us, therefore, strive to be wise builders, grounding our lives in the rock of God’s love and will, so that we may stand firm in the face of every trial.