Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 2, 2021
First Reading: Isaiah 26.1-6
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."
Psalm 118
1Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!2Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."3Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever."4Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever."5Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.6The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?7The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.10All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!11They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!12They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!13I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.14The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.15Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,16the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"17I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.18The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.20This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.22The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.23This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.24This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.25Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.27The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.29Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Gospel: Matthew 7.21, 24-27
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true faith and its practical implications in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful canticle of trust and hope in God’s providence. The prophet describes a city of strength, Zion, where the just and the faithful enter through the gates, trusting in God’s promise of peace. This passage is set in a time of uncertainty and threat for the people of Judah, but Isaiah reminds them that true security comes not from human strength but from reliance on the Lord. The old errors and false securities of the world will pass away, but those who trust in God will endure.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that merely calling him “Lord” is not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven. What matters is doing the will of the Father. He illustrates this with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The wise builder, who hears Jesus’ words and acts on them, constructs his house on rock, and it stands firm against the storms of life. The foolish builder, who hears but does not act, builds on sand, and his house collapses. This teaching emphasizes that faith must be lived out in action. It is not enough to listen to God’s word; we must allow it to shape our decisions and guide our lives.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s call to trust in God and Jesus’ call to act on His teachings are two sides of the same coin. Trusting in God leads us to live according to His will, which is the foundation of a life that endures through life’s challenges. In our daily lives, this means prayerfully seeking God’s will and then having the courage to act on it, even when it is difficult. Let us ask ourselves: Am I building my life on the rock of God’s word, or am I settling for the shifting sands of the world? May we strive to be wise builders, trusting in God’s providence and living out our faith with integrity and love.