Daily Readings - Mon Dec 03 2018
Isaiah
1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.4And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.5O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Matthew
5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Sermon
The readings today offer us a vision of hope and faith, reminding us of God’s desire to bring all people together in peace and unity. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear of a future where the mountain of the Lord’s house is established as the highest point, and all nations stream to it. This is a prophetic vision of a world where God’s law and Word bring light and guidance, ending conflict and warfare. The image of swords being turned into plowshares and spears into sickles symbolizes the transformation from a world of division and violence to one of harmony and productivity. Isaiah’s message is one of trust in God’s plan for humanity, a plan that transcends borders and unites all people under His wisdom.
In the Gospel, we encounter a centurion whose faith in Jesus is remarkable. Despite his position of authority, he humbly recognizes his unworthiness and trusts in Jesus’ power to heal his servant. His words, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,” reflect a deep humility and understanding of authority—both earthly and divine. Jesus praises the centurion’s faith, noting that it surpasses what He has found in Israel. This exchange reminds us that faith is not limited by background or status; it is the openness of the heart to God’s will that matters. The centurion’s trust in Jesus’ Word leads to healing, showing us the power of faith to bring about transformation.
Both readings call us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Isaiah’s vision challenges us to work toward a world where division is overcome, and all people live in harmony. The centurion’s example encourages us to approach God with humility and trust, recognizing that His power can bring light and healing into our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to be instruments of peace and unity, trusting in God’s plan and living with the faith that can move mountains. May we, like the centurion, allow God’s Word to shape our hearts and actions, leading us closer to His kingdom.