Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 11, 2022
Psalm 146
1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!2I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.3Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.4When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.The LORD sets the prisoners free;8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.9The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.10The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Matthew 11.2-11
2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples3and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"4And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.10This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'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.
Sermon
In today's Gospel, we encounter a poignant moment where John the Baptist, imprisoned and uncertain, sends his disciples to inquire if Jesus is the Messiah they await. Jesus responds by highlighting the miracles He performs, affirming His divine mission. He then praises John as more than a prophet, yet humbly notes that even the least in the kingdom of heaven surpasses John. This passage invites us to reflect on doubt, faith, and our place in God's plan.
John's question to Jesus reveals a human moment of doubt, a feeling we all experience. Yet, Jesus' response is not one of rebuke but of reassurance, pointing to the signs of His ministry as evidence of His identity. This teaches us that in our times of uncertainty, we can find comfort in the signs of God's presence around us. John, though great, remained humble, recognizing his role as a precursor to Christ, reminding us to trust in God's larger plan.
In our daily lives, we face moments of doubt, but like John, we can find strength in faith. Jesus' miracles remind us to look for God's work in our world. The moral lesson here is one of trust and humility—trusting in God's plan even when uncertain and recognizing our place within His grand narrative. Let us embrace our roles with humility, trusting that even the smallest among us can be great in God's eyes.