Daily Readings - Thu Dec 05 2019
Isaiah
1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.2Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.3You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.4Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.5He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust.6Feet trample it down- the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor.
Matthew
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of trust, action, and spiritual foundation. The First Reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a city of strength, Zion, where the just and truthful enter through open gates. It speaks of a time when old errors fade away, and peace is served because hope is placed in God. The passage also warns of the downfall of the lofty city, emphasizing that the poor and the humble will tread it down. This serves as a reminder that true strength comes from trusting in God, who humbles the proud and exalts the humble.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this message with Jesus’ teachings on true discipleship. He emphasizes that merely calling Him “Lord” is not enough; what matters is doing the will of His Father. Jesus then illustrates this with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The wise man builds his house on rock, symbolizing a life grounded in God’s will, which endures life’s storms. Conversely, the foolish man builds on sand, representing a life without a firm spiritual foundation, which crumbles under pressure. This parable underscores the importance of not just hearing God’s word but also living it out in our actions.
These readings remind us that our faith must be rooted in trust and action. Just as the wise builder acts on Jesus’ teachings to secure his house, we too must build our lives on the rock of God’s will. In our daily lives, this means putting our faith into practice through our choices and deeds. It calls us to trust in God’s providence, even when challenges arise, and to live out our faith with integrity. The moral lesson here is clear: a life of faith without action is like a house built on sand—it may look sturdy but will not withstand the storms of life. Let us, therefore, strive to be wise builders, grounding our lives in the rock of God’s love and will, so that we may stand firm in the face of every trial.