Daily Readings - Thu Dec 06 2018
Isaiah
1In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.2Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:5For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.6The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
Matthew
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, fidelity, and the sure foundation of God’s promises. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a canticle of hope and trust in the Lord. The prophet describes a city of strength, Zion, where the just and the faithful enter through the gates. He reminds us that true peace comes from hoping in God and trusting in His eternal providence. The passage also warns against pride and arrogance, as the lofty city will be brought low, while the poor and the humble will find their footing on the solid ground of God’s justice.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of living out our faith in action. He warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father. Jesus then uses the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate this point. The wise builder, who hears His words and acts on them, constructs his house on the rock, and it stands firm against the storms of life. The foolish builder, who hears but does not act, builds on sand, and his house collapses. This parable reminds us that our faith must be rooted in action, not just words.
These readings call us to examine our lives and ensure that we are building our spiritual houses on the rock of God’s word. Like the just and faithful in Isaiah, we must trust in the Lord and live according to His will. Like the wise builder in Matthew, we must hear God’s word and put it into practice. In a world filled with uncertainties, let us turn to the Lord, who is our strength and our peace. Let us strive to live humbly, trusting in His providence and building our lives on the solid foundation of His teachings. In doing so, we will find true peace and stability, even in the midst of life’s storms.