Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 14, 2018
First Reading: Isaiah 48.17-19
17This is what the LORD says- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.18If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.19Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me."
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.4Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Gospel: Matthew 11.16-19
16"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:17"'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.'18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of guidance, wisdom, and the challenges of living a life faithful to God’s call. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that God is our Redeemer and Teacher, who guides us on the path of life. The prophet laments that if only the people had listened to God’s commandments, they would have experienced peace and justice in abundance. This passage emphasizes the importance of obedience and trust in God’s plan, which leads to flourishing and enduring legacy.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a different yet complementary perspective. Jesus compares the current generation to children in a marketplace, highlighting their inconsistency and refusal to respond to God’s messengers. John the Baptist and Jesus himself faced criticism—John for his austerity and Jesus for his openness to sinners and tax collectors. Yet, Jesus affirms that wisdom is vindicated by those who embrace it. This passage challenges us to consider how we respond to God’s call and whether we allow ourselves to be guided by His wisdom, even when it meets resistance or misunderstanding.
These readings call us to examine our own response to God’s guidance in our lives. Like the people in Isaiah’s time, we are often tempted to ignore or dismiss God’s commandments, thinking we know better. Like the generation criticized by Jesus, we may find excuses to reject the messengers of God’s truth. Yet, the readings assure us that God’s wisdom is justified by those who live it out. Let us strive to be among those who listen, obey, and trust in God’s plan, even when it is challenging. May we allow His wisdom to guide us, bringing peace and justice to our lives and to the world around us.