Daily Readings - Mon Dec 03 2018
Isaiah
1This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:2In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.3Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.4He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Matthew
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very 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.