Daily Readings - Thu Dec 01 2022
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 foundation of our faith and the trust we place in God. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a canticle of hope and trust in the Lord, who is the ultimate source of strength and peace. The prophet describes a city of strength, Zion, where the just and truthful people dwell. He emphasizes that true security comes not from human efforts but from trusting in God, who humbles the proud and lifts up the lowly. This passage reminds us that our hope is not in earthly powers or fleeting successes but in the eternal and unshakable God.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of living out our faith in action. He says 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 two builders: the wise man who builds his house on rock and the foolish man who builds on sand. The house on rock withstands the storms of life because it is founded on a firm foundation—listening to and living out Jesus' teachings. This parable challenges us to examine the foundation of our own lives. Are we merely hearing the Word of God, or are we putting it into practice?
These readings call us to trust in God’s providence and to build our lives on the solid rock of His teachings. In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, we are reminded that true peace and security come from living in harmony with God’s will. Let us ask ourselves: Am I placing my trust in the Lord, or am I relying on my own strength? Am I building my life on the rock of faith, or am I settling for the shifting sands of worldly priorities? May we strive to be wise builders, rooted in prayer, virtue, and a commitment to living out the Gospel in our daily lives.