Daily Readings - Thu Dec 05 2019
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
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of trust, action, and spiritual foundation. The First Reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a city of strength, Zion, where the just and truthful enter through open gates. It speaks of a time when old errors fade away, and peace is served because hope is placed in God. The passage also warns of the downfall of the lofty city, emphasizing that the poor and the humble will tread it down. This serves as a reminder that true strength comes from trusting in God, who humbles the proud and exalts the humble.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this message with Jesus’ teachings on true discipleship. He emphasizes that merely calling Him “Lord” is not enough; what matters is doing the will of His Father. Jesus then illustrates this with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The wise man builds his house on rock, symbolizing a life grounded in God’s will, which endures life’s storms. Conversely, the foolish man builds on sand, representing a life without a firm spiritual foundation, which crumbles under pressure. This parable underscores the importance of not just hearing God’s word but also living it out in our actions.
These readings remind us that our faith must be rooted in trust and action. Just as the wise builder acts on Jesus’ teachings to secure his house, we too must build our lives on the rock of God’s will. In our daily lives, this means putting our faith into practice through our choices and deeds. It calls us to trust in God’s providence, even when challenges arise, and to live out our faith with integrity. The moral lesson here is clear: a life of faith without action is like a house built on sand—it may look sturdy but will not withstand the storms of life. Let us, therefore, strive to be wise builders, grounding our lives in the rock of God’s love and will, so that we may stand firm in the face of every trial.