Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 13, 2018
First Reading: Isaiah 41.13-20
13For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.14Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.15"See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.16You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.17"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.18I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.19I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,20so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Psalm 145
1I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.2Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.4One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.5They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.6They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.7They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.9The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.10All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.11They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,12so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.14The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.16You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Gospel: Matthew 11.11-15
11I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.15He who has ears, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, transformation, and the nature of God's kingdom. The first reading from Isaiah offers a comforting promise from God to His people, reassuring them not to fear as He is their helper and Redeemer. Using vivid imagery, Isaiah describes God's transformative power, turning deserts into fruitful lands, symbolizing His ability to bring life and abundance where there was once barrenness. This passage speaks to God's faithfulness and the hope of restoration, likely directed to the Israelites during a time of hardship or exile.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus' words about John the Baptist, who is hailed as the greatest among those born of women. Yet, Jesus emphasizes that even the least in the kingdom is greater, highlighting the challenges and opposition faced in spreading the kingdom's message. This passage underscores the prophetic role of John, linking him to Elijah, and reminds us of the kingdom's enduring nature despite the violence it faces.
Both readings remind us of God's transformative power and the courage needed to trust in His plan. Isaiah's vision of a renewed land and Jesus' reflection on the kingdom encourage us to face life's struggles with faith, knowing God's power can bring forth new life. Let us embrace this hope, trusting in God's providence and recognizing His transformative work in our lives, even amidst adversity.