Daily Readings - Mon Dec 04 2023
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
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of faith, trust, and the universal call to God’s kingdom. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vision of a future where all nations stream to the mountain of the Lord, seeking his ways and living in peace. Swords are beaten into plowshares, and war is no more. This is a messianic vision, a hope for a world transformed by God’s presence and law. It speaks to a time when humanity, tired of conflict and division, turns to the Lord for guidance and harmony. The context is one of longing for a world at peace, where God’s light shines brightly for all to see.
The Gospel continues this theme with the story of the centurion, a Roman soldier, who approaches Jesus with humility and faith. Despite his position of authority, the centurion recognizes his unworthiness and trusts completely in Jesus’ power to heal his servant. His faith is remarkable because he is not a Jew, yet he believes in Jesus’ authority. Jesus praises his faith and heals the servant instantly. This story shows us that God’s kingdom is not limited to one people or place; it is universal. The centurion’s faith is an example for us, teaching us to trust in God’s power and to recognize that his love and mercy extend to all people.
These readings call us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Like the centurion, we are called to approach God with humility and confidence, knowing that he can do great things in our lives. The vision from Isaiah reminds us that we are part of a larger story, a story of God’s plan to bring all people together in peace and unity. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to live with the kind of faith that sees beyond the present moment, trusting in God’s plan. May we, like the centurion, be open to the universal call of God’s kingdom and work toward a world where all people can walk in the light of the Lord.