Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 9, 2021
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, transformation, and the call to live with courage and perseverance in our faith. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear words of comfort and hope addressed to a people who feel weak and insignificant. God reassures them, “Do not be afraid, for I am the Lord your God who takes you by the hand.” This passage is set in the context of Israel’s exile, where the people are struggling with despair and doubt. Isaiah reminds them that God is their Redeemer, who will not abandon them but will bring about a dramatic transformation, turning deserts into gardens and providing water in the parched land. This is a powerful image of God’s fidelity and His ability to bring life out of barrenness.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about John the Baptist, describing him as the greatest among those born of women, yet emphasizing that even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. This statement highlights the radical shift that the kingdom of heaven brings. John, as the last of the prophets, prepared the way for the Messiah, but the kingdom itself is a new and greater reality. Jesus also warns that the kingdom has endured violence, meaning that it demands a radical commitment and struggle to live according to its values. This is a call to us to embrace the challenges of following Christ with courage and determination.
Both readings remind us that our faith is not about passivity but about trust and action. Isaiah calls us to trust in God’s power to transform even the most difficult situations, while the Gospel challenges us to live with the boldness and perseverance of John the Baptist. In our daily lives, we are invited to let go of fear and to embrace the transformative power of God. Like the people in the desert, we may face dry and barren moments, but we are called to trust that God can bring new life and hope. Let us also remember that living the Gospel requires us to be courageous and steadfast, even in the face of challenges. May we, like John the Baptist, be willing to prepare the way for the Lord in our own lives and in the world around us.