Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 15, 2017
First Reading: Isaiah 48.17-19
17Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.18O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:19Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Gospel: Matthew 11.16-19
16But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,17And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages that invite us to reflect on our response to God's call. The first reading from Isaiah 48:17-19 presents God as a Redeemer and Teacher, guiding His people with promises of peace and prosperity. Obedience to His commandments is portrayed as the pathway to a life where peace flows like a river and justice crashes like waves. The context suggests a call to repentance, urging the Israelites to align their lives with God's will for their benefit.
The Gospel from Matthew 11:16-19 shifts our focus to Jesus, who compares His generation to indecisive children. He highlights the rejection of both John the Baptist and Himself, illustrating how people criticized John for his asceticism and Jesus for His sociability. Yet, Jesus affirms that wisdom is vindicated by its outcomes, emphasizing that true wisdom is recognized by its fruits.
Both readings converge on the theme of response to God's messengers. Isaiah shows the rewards of obedience, while Matthew reveals the consequences of rejection. In our daily lives, this calls us to be discerning and consistent in following God, undeterred by criticism. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's wisdom and remain open to His will, for it is through obedience and faith that we find true peace and justice.