Daily Readings - Sun Dec 04 2022
Isaiah
1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.7The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.9They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.10In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Romans
4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
Matthew
1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"4Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.5Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.9And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.11"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of hope, justice, and the universal call to repentance. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a messianic vision—a shoot springing forth from the root of Jesse, who will bring justice and harmony to the world. This figure, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, will not judge by appearances but will establish peace and fairness, even among natural enemies. Isaiah’s prophecy reminds us of God’s promise to restore creation and bring all things into unity.
In the Gospel, Matthew introduces John the Baptist, who calls people to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. John’s message is urgent and clear: the kingdom of heaven is near, and true repentance requires more than outward signs—it demands a change of heart and a life of virtue. John’s baptism with water is only a beginning, for the one who comes after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, separating the wheat from the chaff. This reminds us that our faith must be lived out in deeds, not just words.
The second reading from Romans ties these themes together. Paul emphasizes that the Scriptures are a source of hope and patience for us, and he prays that we may be united in our minds and hearts, just as Christ has accepted us. This acceptance is not limited to a select few but extends to all people, Jew and Gentile alike. The readings today challenge us to examine our lives: Are we living in a way that reflects the justice and harmony of God’s kingdom? Are we open to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit? Let us repent of our sins, embrace the unity Christ offers, and strive to be instruments of peace and justice in the world.